NEW DELHI: Huge quantity of drugs continued to be smuggled in Punjab during the Assembly polls in the state, Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) data suggest.
The NCB was keeping a close vigil on the drug smuggling cases in all the election-bound states, during which as many as 14 cases related to the seizure of drugs were reported from Punjab, which went to the polls in a single phase on February 20.
The agency constituted special teams to keep a check on drug smuggling during the Assembly elections in five states.
An NCB source said that the state police and other agencies also participated in the special operations being launched by the NCB.
"We recovered 105 kg heroin worth Rs 315 crore from Punjab. Apart from this, we seized 1, 510 kg ganja and 1, 870 kg hashish. One was held in a case pertaining to the seizure of hashish and ganja, while several others are still on the run, " said the source.
Most of the drugs "might have" been smuggled in from across the border, which is a matter of grave concern, the source added.
In Uttar Pradesh, where elections are still underway, the NCB has lodged 10 cases and arreated 17 persons. Elevan persons involved in drugs smuggling are still at large in the state.
In Uttrakhand, only one case was lodged and four were held for supplying herion.
In Goa, the NCB seized drugs worth Rs 2 crore.
Sidhu, Kejriwal fooling people of Punjab, Electoral defeat will teach them a bitter lesson: Chugh
PHAGWARA: BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh today lashed out at Punjab PCC president Navjot Sidhu and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for cheating the people of Punjab with false promises.
In a statement, Chugh lambasted Sidhu for talking about sand and liquor mafias in Punjab saying that what did he do to check the mafias during the last five years when he was a minister and was also a father figure of the Congress being the state president.
Sidhu was a mute witness to the sand mafia that Channi led as the chief minister. Sidhu remained blind to the mafias that flourished in the state during the Congress rule when he enjoyed power to the full.
Sidhu is now fooling the people of the state when his party and he himself is facing defeat in the elections.
Chugh came down heavily on Kejriwal for being hand-in-glove with liquor mafias whom he has given as free hand in Delhi as a chief minister. Kejriwal has exposed his links with the liquor mafia whom he is now plotting to bring to Punjab. "But Kejriwal is living in a fool's paradise because his party would face shameful defeat in the elections as people of the state had woken up to his deceptive and cheating character", Chugh added