Hospitals turn drug den

CHANDIGARH: The two drug peddlers arrested after a chase in PGIMER on Thursday evening were striking deals, holding meetings and selling contraband at city hospitals, said Narcotics Control Bureau officials probing the case on Saturday. "We were tracking the activities of the accused for last over three months. They were specifically calling their clients and drug smugglers at PGIMER and government hospitals and civil dispensaries to strike deals and exchange contraband," said a NCB official.
"There is a possibility of involvement of some members of hospitals' security staff in this racket. We are probing all angles. The two accused have divulged some big names from the region and given us crucial leads that will lead to more arrests in the coming days," he added. The police had arrested Dinesh Kumar and Ram Niwas, both residents of Jhalabad in Rajasthan, from PGIMER on Thursday evening. The NCB had recovered 13-kg opium from them. The two were supposed to hand over the consignment to a city-based drug smuggler.
The NCB sleuths had also recovered Rs 3.50 lakh, one country-made pistol, four live cartridges and a Tavera (with Madhya Pradesh registration number) from their possession. The NCB has secured more information about Amarjeet Singh, a city-based drug peddler who had managed to flee on Thursday.
"Amarjeet is a big smuggler and has contacts in various states. He smuggles drugs almost daily and supplies them at night clubs and high-profile parties in Kullu-Manali. We are very close to arresting him and will move court to declare him a proclaimed offender," said an NCB official.