Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Despite sustained crackdowns, the sale of narcotic pills and liquid substances continues in the city. Police on Tuesday arrested Syed Azhar (Chandmari, Cantonment), who had escaped from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force at Nagarnaka five days ago. Earlier, on Monday night, his associate Taufiq Rashid Ali (24, Kashmir Mohalla, Chandmari) was nabbed in the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) area while allegedly attempting to sell drugs.
Acting on a tip-off, police inspector Geeta Bagwade and assistant police inspector Dipali Patil laid a trap near GMCH. Around 1 am, Taufiq was intercepted on a moped. Police seized 240 strips (2,400 tablets) and 14 bottles of liquid narcotics from his bag. A case has been registered at Begumpura police station. The operation was conducted under the guidance of deputy superintendent Sainath Thombre.
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Gang of 15 active
Police said Syed Azhar (25), brother of history-sheeter Andha Firoz, is part of an organised network. On Saturday at Nagarnaka, he fled after dumping 2,000 tablets and 118 bottles of liquid drugs. He was arrested on Tuesday. Probe indicates Andha Firoz runs a gang of around 15 youths involved in narcotics trade.
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Surat connection resurfaces
Azhar returned to the city on Saturday, while Taufiq had travelled to Surat two days earlier to procure the consignment, pointing to a recurring Gujarat supply link.