Amritsar: National Investigation Agency on Thursday conducted searches on the premises of suspect Manpreet Singh of Kala Afghana in Amritsar district’s Teja Khurd area of Batala and seized Rs 20 lakh and 130 live rounds, apart from mobile phones, pen drive, a bunch of polythene bags used for packing heroin, one Hyundai Verna car, a two wheeler, documents related to properties, and other incriminating documents.
Manpreet happened to be a close associate of Ranjit Singh alias Cheetak and Iqbal Singh alias Shera against whom NIA has already filed charge-sheet in connection with Hizbul Mujahideen narco terror case.
The case relates to arrest of Hilal Ahmad Shergojri, an Over Ground Worker of HM and a close associate of Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo, the then commander of the terror outfit who had come to Amritsar to collect the funds to further the terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. A total of Rs 29 lakhs and a Tata truck were seized from the accused on April 25 last by Punjab Police.
This case was originally registered at Police Station Sadar in Amritsar City under sections 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20 and 21 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in connection with seizure of Rs 29 lakhs which were drug proceeds. Subsequently sections 21, 29, 29A & 32 of NDPS Act were added during investigation.
The case was re-registered by NIA on May 8 last and taken up for investigation. NIA has filed chargesheet against 11 accused persons in Speical NIA Court, Mohali so far.
During investigation, it was revealed that Manpreet Singh, a hawala operator, had collected heroin, drug proceeds and weapons and transported them in his i20 and Verna car as per directions of accused Ranjit Singh alias Cheetah and Iqbal Singh alias Shera. Further, Manpreet Singh delivered the drugs proceeds to the tune of Rs 35 lacs and weapons to the charge-sheeted accused Bikram Singh alias Vicky, a relative of Ranjeet Singhalias Cheeta during the March last.
