Truck with opium seized in Chatra, 2 held

Chatra: A truck transporting one kilogram of opium to Punjab from Chatra was seized at a vehicle checkpoint set up near a petrol pump on Bagra road on Monday. Two persons, including a member of an interstate gang, were arrested. The consignment was valued above Rs 1 lakh in the market, police said.
Sources said Chatra superintendent of police (SP) Rakesh Ranjan got a tip-off about the transportation of opium and formed a team led by sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Avinash Kumar to intercept the vehicle. The other members of the team consisted of Sadar police station officer in-charge (OC) Manohar Karmali, sub-inspector (SI) Manoj Kumar Pal, assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) Nirmal Kumar Singh and Ranjay Kumar Singh. The team intercepted a truck, bearing number PB11 CQ-8403, carrying opium hidden in scrap. The truck driver, identified as Mandeep Singh (42) of Fatehgarh in Punjab, who was a part of an interstate gang was nabbed.
Mandeep confessed during interrogation that he had purchased opium from Ramu Yadav of Dumbi village under the sadar police station limits, police added.
SDPO Kumar said, “Ramu was arrested from his house. An FIR has been lodged against both Ramu and Mandeep under the NDPS Act.
The duo had planned to send opium to Punjab from here. They admitted their involvement in the crime.”