Lotkoh man back in police custody in 15 kg opium case
GARAM CHASHMA: Mr Shirin Khan, who was arrested by police after recovery of over 15 kg opium from his house in Parabeg early on Wednesday, was handed over to the police again on a day’s physical remand, a source in the police told ChitralToday.
He said when Khan was produced in a local court soon after his arrest on Wednesday, he was sent to jail even though the police wanted his physical custody to further probe him.
The source said newly-appointed District Police Officer (DPO) Abdul Hayee approached the sessions court Chitral seeking the physical custody of the suspect. The sessions court set aside the earlier decision of the lower court and handed Khan over to police for one day’s remand.
The source said the police were investigating the suspect to reach other members of the gang allegedly involved in smuggling of drugs from Afghanistan.
He said the arrested man would be produced before the court again on Friday, adding the police would seek extension in his custody if they needed further investigation.
Another source, who was among the team of the police that arrested the suspect, told ChitralToday that Shirin Khan had links with Afghan drug suppliers.
“We intercepted telephonic conversation between Shirin Khan and Afghanistan-based Mehmoor Khan, a drug supplier, and monitored their agents supplying drugs from across the border.”
He alleged that an Afghan smuggler who was arrested by the police in May this year was also supplying drugs to Shirin Khan. The alleged Afghan smuggler fled from a police station in Garam Chashma a few days after being arrested.
The source said after taking permission from the area magistrate and consulting senior officers, a team consisting of the SDPO and SHO raided the house of Shirin Khan early in the morning on Wednesday.
He said the over 15 kg opium were in packs of different sizes and kept in a small room used for keeping milk (Gonj) outside the main door of the house.
The source said Khan was an active political and social figure in his area and remained counsellor and also contested elections for the seat of a provincial assembly.