Jaipur, June 5 (Udaipur Kiran): Rajasthan Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested a drug smuggler carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 from Ferozepur district of Punjab under the special anti-drug campaign “Operation Madashwin” being conducted on the directions of Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma.
The arrest marks another major success in the ongoing operation, with ANTF teams actively targeting narcotics networks across states, including Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, under the guidance of Additional Director General of Police Dinesh M.N. and the leadership of Inspector General of Police ANTF Vikas Kumar.
The arrested accused, Sunil Kumar, son of Nakshatra Singh, a resident of 10 Sarkari village under Jaitsar police station in Sri Ganganagar district, had been absconding for the past year. Several cases, including narcotics trafficking cases, were pending against him and a reward of Rs 25,000 had been announced for his arrest.
According to police, Sunil had taken shelter in a cowshed in Ferozepur to evade arrest. He avoided using mobile phones and reportedly sent money home through e-Mitra services to prevent his location from being traced.
The breakthrough came when ANTF teams conducted a search at his residence in Sri Ganganagar. Although the accused was not found there, officers recovered an old train ticket to Ferozepur. Since he had no known relatives in the area, investigators treated the ticket as a crucial lead and immediately began tracking his movements in Punjab.
After showing his photograph to local residents and conducting extensive inquiries, the team received information that he was living in a cowshed near a school. Acting on the tip-off, police surrounded the location and launched a raid.
On spotting the police team, the accused allegedly attempted to escape by running from the cowshed and jumping over a nearby school wall. ANTF personnel chased him and, after nearly half an hour of pursuit, successfully apprehended him.
During the investigation, police found that Sunil had left school after Class 8. Allegedly driven by drug addiction, he initially became involved in theft and fraudulent land dealings. Between 2021 and 2025, multiple cases related to theft, cheating and offences under the NDPS Act were registered against him in Gharsana, Vijaynagar, Chhatargarh and Jaitsar areas of Sri Ganganagar district.
Police further stated that Sunil had allegedly sent 280 grams of heroin through one of his peddlers for delivery to Suratgarh. However, Suratgarh Police intercepted the consignment and arrested the supplier, leading to Sunil’s name surfacing in the NDPS case, after which he went into hiding.
Inspector General of Police Vikas Kumar said that ANTF would continue its campaign against drug traffickers both within and outside Rajasthan and that no person involved in the narcotics trade would be spared.
He appealed to the public to share information related to criminals or drug traffickers with the ANTF Control Room at 0141-2502877 or through WhatsApp at 9261225056. He said the identity of informants would be kept completely confidential.
The Inspector General also announced that members of the ANTF team involved in the successful operation would be honoured at a special programme.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.