• Source:JND
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A former National Security Guard (NSG) commando, Bajrang Singh, who once took part in the 26/11 counter-terrorism operation in Mumbai, has been implicated in a drug trafficking ring. According to Rajasthan Police, Singh is believed to be the mastermind behind a cannabis smuggling operation and was taken into custody on Wednesday night in Ratangarh, located in the Churu district.

Senior police officials stated on Thursday that Singh is accused of leading the network responsible for transporting cannabis from Telangana and Odisha into Rajasthan. During his arrest, authorities reportedly seized 200 kilograms of the drug.

Originally from Sikar district, Singh had been under surveillance due to his suspected involvement in criminal activities and had a bounty of Rs 25,000 on his capture.

The “drug kingpin” belonged to Rajasthan's Sikar district and carried a bounty of Rs 25,000, Kumar said.

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State's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) successfully carried out ‘Operation Gaanjaney', resulting in Singh's arrest.

The two-month operation to track Singh succeeded after a crucial tip that he always travelled with a trusted Odiya cook. Technical intelligence on the cook's relatives led the team to Singh's hideout in Ratangarh, where the commando-turned-criminal was finally caught.

Police expect the arrest to curb the large-scale illegal drug trade from Odisha and Telangana into Rajasthan, Kumar said.

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Singh had joined the NSG after finishing his Class 10. He was part of the commando team that responded to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, Kumar said.

After retiring in 2021 and facing a political defeat, he turned to organised drug trafficking, quickly becoming a major trafficker dealing in large quantities of gaanja, the official said.

(With PTI Inputs )