CHANDIGARH: Punjabi singer Harman Sidhu, who has penned a song against the
heroin epidemic in Punjab, was arrested along with his four associates with 52.1 grams of heroin in
Sirsa town of Haryana on Saturday morning. One of Sidhu’s associates is a patwari (revenue field official).
Sidhu’s 2015 song ‘Chita’ speaks of the ills of heroin addiction. He and his associates were caught with the contraband, worth Rs 5.2 lakh, at a police naka laid at the toll plaza near Bhavdeen village, on the Sirsa-Fatehabad road. Sidhu hails from Mansa district of Punjab.
Inspector Dhale Ram, in charge of the crime investigation agency (CIA) and anti-drug staff of Sirsa police, said the other arrested men included Ramnik Singh, patwari of Mansa, and Sirsa residents Surjit Singh, Manoj Kumar and Anurag. They have been charged with sections under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychtropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Sirsa Sadar police station.
According to cops, all accused were nabbed following a tip-off that a car carrying the contraband would pass the toll plaza. The cops found the drugs when they searched the car owned by Sidhu and which was being driven by Ramnik. The cops found the drugs in a pocket near the steering.
Police said Sidhu and other accused were not only hooked to drugs but were also suppliers for local addicts. “We are interrogating them to acertain their source of heroin and the persons whom they supplied the drugs to. We are also interrogating them to know since when they were into this illegal trade,” said inspector Ram.
In his late 20s, Sidhu has released six albums so far. “Initially, they tried to influence our team. When they realized that they have been caught, they sought pardon by saying that the case will spoil their reputation in the industry,” said the Sirsa CIA in-charge, adding that all accused would be produced before a court on Sunday.
The five accused in police custody in Sirsa
