LUDHIANA: The former sarpanch of village Rano on Payal area Gurdeep Singh Rano, who was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF), presently called Anti Narcotic Task Force (ANTF), in 2020 for running an international drug syndicate, has been detained under Prevention of illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (PIT NDPS) Act. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary Home Affairs, Punjab has pronounced detention order following a recommendation of ANTF. Importantly, Rano has approached the court with a bail plea; however after the detention orders, he will still remain in custody for at least one year, even if his bail is granted, said the ANTF official.
After the detention orders Rano has been transferred from Central Jail, Kapurthala to Central Jail, Bathinda. According to the officials, the action will prove a milestone in curbing drug smuggling in the state of Punjab. During the detention he will be allowed to meet only with his family members. The authorities will record audio and video of the meetings.
On November 6, 2020, the task force arrested Rano, his aides Ravej of Mahavir Colony, Iqbal Singh of Payal area and Randeep Singh of Khanna. The cops had recovered 5.792 kg Heroin, 400 gm Opium, 3 Pistols- including 2 Pistols .32 Bore and 1 Pistol 7.62 Bore, 1 Revolver with .32 caliber, 2 Rifles, 12 Luxury Cars, Rs 50.24 lakh Drug Money from their possession. An FIR under sections 8, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27-A, 29 NDPS Act, sections 27, 30 Arms Act, 171, 395, 419, 473 of IPC, section 64 of Punjab Police Act was lodged against him at STF Mohali.
During the probe, a total of 31.418 kg heroin, 6 kg Amphetamine and 2 kg chemical powder was recovered from Rano and his accomplices.
Snehdeep Sharma, AIG ANTF said, Rano has applied for his bail. Meanwhile, the ANTF approached the home department. Though Rano was lodged in the jail since 2020, however he tried to run drug nexuses from the prison too. Therefore, ANTF wrote to the government for his detention.
Sharma added that, the moveable and immoveable properties worth Rs 7.80 Crore belonging to Rano were seized by competent authority. Besides this, there are 7 more FIR’s under NDPS Act and other acts registered against Gurdeep Singh.
During investigation, it was found that Gurdeep Singh had links with international smugglers namely Harminder Singh alias Rommy Randhawa, Rajan Sharma, Tanvir Bedi and Baljit Singh @ Babbu Khera.
Later, the kingpin of drug haul Harminder Singh Randhawa alias Rommy Randhawa was extradited from Thailand, where he has been hiding for the past many years.