New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) The Delhi Police have arrested two individuals and recovered 1.436 kg of fine-quality charas, commonly known as Malana cream, with an estimated international value of Rs 60 lakh, officials said on Wednesday.

In a major breakthrough, a team of the Anti-Snatching and Burglary Cell (ARSC) of the Crime Branch apprehended the accused — Om Chand alias Omu and Pyare Singh — from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station on March 19.

The duo was intercepted by the general coach of the Maharashtra Sampark Kranti Express (12908) just moments before the train’s departure, with 1.436 kg of charas in their possession.

Following the seizure, a case was registered under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act at the Crime Branch Police Station, and further investigation is currently underway, officials said.

According to police, a specific tip-off was received on March 19 indicating that an interstate drug cartel member, identified as Omu, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, would arrive in Delhi to supply charas.

Acting on this intelligence, a team led by Inspector Robin Tyagi, along with ASI Sachin Singh, ASI Ramdass, and Head Constable Adesh, under the supervision of ACP Sanjay Kumar Nagpal, was constituted to apprehend the suspects.

The police initially laid a trap near GT Karnal Bypass (Mukarba Chowk) in Delhi. However, the accused, sensing police presence, managed to evade capture. The team then moved swiftly to ISBT Kashmiri Gate and conducted checks on several buses arriving from Himachal Pradesh, but the suspects continued to slip through.

“In a dramatic turn, after a brief cat-and-mouse chase, the accused reached Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, where the police team followed and successfully apprehended Om Chand alias Omu along with his associate Pyare Singh from the general coach of Maharashtra Sampark Kranti Express (12908) moments before its departure,” officials said.

During the course of the investigation, the source of the seized contraband was traced to Noulu Ram, a resident of Malana village in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Police teams conducted a raid at his residence, but he had fled after learning about the arrest of the two accused.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that there is a significant demand for charas in Mumbai, particularly for party events. They also disclosed that they had been tasked with supplying the consignment to Mumbai and that the recovered charas had been sourced from Noulu Ram in Malana village.

–IANS

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