Ex-NSG Commando Arrested for Cannabis Smuggling

A former National Security Guard (NSG) commando, Bajrang Singh, known for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly leading a cannabis smuggling operation. The Rajasthan Police detained Singh late Wednesday night in Ratangarh, Churu district, during a joint operation by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).

Singh was apprehended with 200 kg of cannabis, which he reportedly smuggled from Telangana and Odisha into Rajasthan. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vikas Kumar stated that Singh had a bounty of Rs 25,000 on his head. The operation, named 'Operation Gaanjaney', was the result of weeks of planning and intelligence sharing, aimed at dismantling the terror-narcotics nexus in the region.

Originally from Sikar district, Singh left school after Class 10 to join the Border Security Force (BSF) before serving seven years as an NSG commando. His involvement in the 26/11 operation at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai marked him as a national hero. However, after retiring in 2021, he attempted to enter local politics by promoting his wife as a candidate, which did not succeed but increased his local influence.

Police believe that Singh leveraged his connections to establish a drug smuggling network, expanding from small-scale transactions to larger operations. He had been evading arrest for nearly two months, using fake mobile identities and hiding in remote areas. Authorities combined technical intelligence with ground-level inputs to locate him.

IGP Kumar emphasized the significance of Singh's arrest, stating, "The arrest of a hardened operative like Bajrang is a significant achievement in neutralising the terror-narcotics nexus in Rajasthan." This case highlights the troubling transition of a former commando from a national hero to a drug kingpin, raising concerns about the influence of illicit activities in the region.