In a significant breakthrough, Jodhpur Police’s specialised Cycloner team apprehended Jitendra Singh, a notorious drug trafficker, on Saturday under the jurisdiction of Mohangarh Police Station. Singh had been evading capture for nearly three years, with a bounty of Rs. 15,000 placed on his head. His arrest was made during the ongoing Operation Tatpunjia, a focused initiative by the police to dismantle drug networks in Rajasthan’s western regions.
Singh, who has a long criminal history tied to drug trafficking, was involved in multiple illegal activities, including opium and poppy husk smuggling. Despite his criminal record, Singh managed to remain at large for an extended period, in part due to the influence of his family in their village, which helped keep his whereabouts concealed.
This arrest follows a previous raid in the Bhaniana area, where the police apprehended three traffickers at a liquor party. Following the raid, authorities also seized Rs. 7.5 lakh in cash and a Brezza vehicle from trafficker Babulal’s residence, further highlighting the extent of the drug network’s operations.
Inspector General of Police, Vikas Kumar, emphasized the increasing focus on cracking down on drug trafficking in western Rajasthan. This region has seen a rise in illegal smuggling activities, especially in remote desert areas. Singh, who had been hiding in an abandoned agricultural shelter to avoid detection, was finally caught by the Cycloner team. His arrest is part of a broader strategy to target traffickers operating in difficult-to-reach areas and to dismantle their operations.
