Pratapgarh district police, under Operation Chakravyuh, raided a hut on the Asawata-Kulthana road and uncovered a major interstate drug racket. Authorities recovered 1.897kg of illegal MD (Mephedrone) along with weapons and drug manufacturing equipment, including an induction cooker, mixer, heater, and electronic weighing scale.
The raid, conducted by Hathuniya police station under District Superintendent of Police B Aditya, exposed a makeshift drug production setup operating in a cement-sheet hut in a deserted field. Officials estimated the seized MD to be worth around Rs 1.60 crore on the international market.
Two men were arrested at the scene: Murad Khan Pathan, 28, from Asawata, Pratapgarh, and Mohammad Junaid, 48, from Mehsana, Gujarat. During interrogation, the accused admitted to preparing drugs at the location for the past two days.
Police confirmed that two other suspects, Jeevan Anjana (Pratapgarh) and Sharik alias Jerry (Ujjain, MP), managed to escape. Search operations are ongoing to apprehend them.
In addition to drugs, authorities seized a loaded pistol with five live cartridges, a motorcycle, and a car used for smuggling. Murad Khan has a prior criminal record, including charges under the NDPS Act and an attempt to murder.
The swift action by Pratapgarh police has disrupted a significant drug trafficking network and is under further investigation.
