Gandhinagar: Drugs worth Rs 250 crore were seized from the Avsar Enterprise located in Ankleshwar GIDC area in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, officials said.

The raid conducted jointly by the Surat and Bharuch Police uncovered 141 grams of MD drugs valued at Rs 14.10 lakh, while an additional 427 kilograms of suspected drugs have been sent for testing at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

Authorities have arrested Vishal Patel, the director of the Avsar Enterprise, along with two others. However, the company owner is reportedly abroad. This bust is part of a larger crackdown by Gujarat Police, which recently seized drugs worth thousands of crores.

Earlier, in a similar operation, drugs worth Rs 5,000 crore were seized from the Aavkar Drugs Limited in Ankleshwar.

During the Police Martyrs’ Remembrance Day event, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi praised the efforts of Gujarat Police, stating, “This is not just an operation, but a war against drugs.”

He highlighted the success of the Surat Police Crime Branch, which recently seized 2,100 grams of drugs, leading to the extension of the operation into Bharuch district. The minister emphasised the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking across the state.

Contribution Of Gujarat In Total Value Of Narcotics Seized Across India

In May 2024, the Election Commission (EC) released data showing that Gujarat contributed nearly one-third of the total value of narcotics seized across India.

Between March 1 and May 18, 2024, the EC reported drug seizures worth Rs 3,958.85 crore, which constituted nearly 45 per cent of the total value of all seized items during this period, amounting to Rs 8,889 crore. Gujarat alone accounted for Rs 1,187.8 crore, or about 30 per cent of these drug seizures.

The ECI attributed this surge to enhanced vigilance and robust enforcement actions targeting inducements, including drugs and psychotropic substances. “Continuous monitoring, precise data interpretation, and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to this significant spurt in seizures,” the EC said.

Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the immediate release of Mufti Salman Azhari, allowing him to come out of jail. Despite numerous arguments presented by the Gujarat government, the court has decided to grant him immediate relief.

Mufti Salman Azhari had already been granted bail in three cases filed by the Gujarat police, but he was in custody under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act. He has been held in jail for the past 10 months. Today, the Supreme Court canceled his detention under PASA, leading to his release from Vadodara jail.

Mufti Salman Azhari is a well-known religious scholar, and his supporters had repeatedly demanded his release. His arrest faced public criticism, and several social organizations raised their voices for his freedom.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Mufti Salman Azhari’s supporters expressed their joy and declared his release a victory for justice. It is anticipated that he will resume his activities and maintain contact with his followers after his release.

The release of Mufti Salman marks a significant turning point in an important legal and social matter, indicating that the quest for justice within the judiciary continues.

UP police on Thursday released a video showing the two accused Sarfaraz and Mohammad Talib, who allegedly killed Ram Gopal Mishra on October 13 in Bahraich, being taken to a police jeep after they were shot while trying to escape to Nepal. 

In the video, cops wearing bulletproof vests can be seen carrying both the accused who were writhing in pain after being shot in their legs. One of the accused can be heard telling the cops that they wanted to run away and that is why they fired at them. 

Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Special Task Force, Uttar Pradesh told news agency that five accused in the matter have also been arrested. 

“A total of five people who are the main accused in the case have been arrested. A short exchange of fire took place in which two people were injured. The injured are Sarfaraz and Mohammad Talib. There is no death and the injured have been taken to the hospital,” Amitabh Yash said.

Injured accused admitted to hospital for treatment

ADGP (Law and Order), STF Uttar Pradesh said that two people were injured in the encounter and were admitted to a hospital for treatment.

SP Bahraich, Vrinda Shukla said that “5 people have been arrested. Two of them have been injured in police firing. I am here to assess their condition. One of the injured is Md. Sarfaraz, the other other is Md. Talib.” Ramgopal Mishra was killed while several others were injured after a clash erupted between two communities during the Durga idol immersion procession in the Mahasi area in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Earlier today, Bahraich Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Sanjay Kumar Sharma said that Ramgopal Mishra, who was killed in a clash that erupted between two communities during the Durga idol immersion procession in Bahraich, died due to “excessive bleeding”, officials said.

The CMO said, “The information that we have – that man died of excessive bleeding due to 25-30 pellets injuries. There are some injury marks above his left eye and on the toes. Some part of the nails of both the feet is also missing.” 

Appealing to not spread misinformation on social media, Superintendent of Police (SP) Rural, Pavitra Mohan Tripathi said, “To disturb the social harmony, misinformation is being spread on social media – there’s been a single death in the incident and the reason for death is also clear in the post-mortem report which is bullet injuries. I request people not to spread misinformation and also not to believe in any of such misinformation. The situation is peaceful in the district.” 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that providing justice to the family of the victim of the Bahraich violence is the government’s top priority, and the culprits will not be spared at any cost. He said this after meeting with family members of the deceased of the Bahraich incident in Lucknow.

The family has been provided Rs 10 lakh, a house under the PM Awas Yojana, and an Antyodaya card.

On October 16, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led state government also initiated action against police officials.

According to the police, the procession was passing by a Muslim area when the two groups argued over some issues.