Chandigarh, Mar 11 (PTI) The Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested a village sarpanch in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district in connection with a drug recovery case, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as Paramjit Singh alias Pamma, the sarpanch of Kalsian village, they said.
The arrest has triggered a political row in the state, with the opposition leaders hitting out at the AAP government, alleging that Pamma was backed by the ruling party.
Pamma was presented before a local court, which sent him to two-day judicial remand, an NCB official said.
Pamma’s arrest came following the interrogation of three accused who were held in the drug recovery case last month.
The NCB on February 15 arrested three drug peddlers and recovered 9 kg of heroin, 6 kg of methamphetamine, and 3 kg of opium from their possession, the official said.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh slammed the AAP government over the arrest, saying the “truth” about the Bhagwant Mann dispensation that claims to be waging a war against drugs under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign has been exposed.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Virsa Singh Valtoha claimed that Pamma was the president of the village defence committee, formed to check cross-border drug smuggling.
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira claimed the sarpanch had put up welcome banners for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his visit to Khemkaran on March 7. PTI CHS VSD ARI
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