JALANDHAR/AMRITSAR: Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh‘s brother Harpreet Singh and friend Lovepreet Singh were arrested Thursday with ‘ice’ (a drug made from methamphetamine) near Phillaur in Punjab. Police said a Ludhiana-based drug peddler, from whom they allegedly procured the contraband, was also arrested. The arrests evoked sharp response from Amritpal’s kin, saying they had “anticipated the challenges” following his political rise.
Rural Jalandhar SSP Ankur Gupta said a police patrol spotted a car with tinted windows parked by the NH near Phillaur, and this aroused their suspicion.”On seeing the policemen, the two youths in the car hid things under their seats and then insisted upon a search by a gazetted officer,” the SSP said.
“When DSP Phillaur reached there and questioned them, they identified themselves. Harpreet’s search led to recovery of 4 gm of ‘ice’, a Rs 20 note, a piece of silver foil, one lighter and two mobile phones while a piece of silver foil, a Rs 20 note, lighter and a mobile phone were recovered from Lovepreet, a resident of Cheema Bath village,” Gupta added.
The SSP added that their dope test turned out to be positive at Civil Hospital in Phillaur. Their questioning led to the arrest of Ludhiana resident Sandeep Arora, from whom the duo had procured the drug for Rs 10,000.
Amritpal’s father Tarsem Singh alleged that “there were certain forces conspiring to hinder Amritpal’s progress and damage his reputation.” Without naming anyone, Tarsem said, “They aim to impede our progress and discourage us from pursuing the path of truth, particularly continuing the anti-drug campaign initiated by Amritpal.” Rejecting allegations of Harpreet possessing ‘ice’, Tarsem said: “What could be more surprising than the arrest of Harpreet, elder brother of Punjab’s champion against drug abuse?”