JAIPUR, India – In a shocking turn of events, a former National Security Guard (NSG) commando who fought terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks has been arrested as the alleged kingpin of a massive cannabis (ganja) smuggling network. The Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) apprehended Bajrang Singh in a dramatic, well-planned operation in Churu on Wednesday night.
Police seized 200 kg of cannabis from Singh during the arrest. The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Gaanjaney,’ brought a dramatic end to a two-month-long manhunt for the man who went from being a national hero to a wanted criminal with a Rs 25,000 reward on his head.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vikas Kumar confirmed that Singh was the mastermind behind a syndicate smuggling large quantities of ganja from Telangana and Odisha into Rajasthan.
A Hero’s Fall from Grace
Bajrang Singh’s journey is a startling tale of contrasts. After dropping out of school in the 10th grade, his physical fitness earned him a spot as a constable in the Border Security Force (BSF). He served with distinction on the nation’s borders in Punjab, Assam, and West Bengal, fighting both infiltrators and Maoists.
His exceptional service led to his selection into the elite NSG, where he served as a commando for seven years. His most notable hour came in 2008 when he participated in the anti-terror operations during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
However, his life took a different turn after he returned to his village in 2021 with political ambitions. According to police, it was during his foray into local politics that he established connections with criminal elements. Leveraging his old contacts and knowledge of routes from his BSF days in Odisha and Telangana, Singh quickly built a powerful smuggling empire, rising to become a kingpin within a year.
The Dramatic Capture
For two months, the Rajasthan ATS and Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) had been on Singh’s trail. He proved to be an elusive target, constantly changing locations, using fake mobile IDs, and hiding in remote villages.
The breakthrough came from an unexpected source: Singh’s cook. By monitoring the cook’s communications, the police intelligence team gathered crucial clues that pointed to his hideout in Ratangarh, Churu.
Realizing the danger of confronting a trained commando, the police executed their plan with extreme caution. After spotting Singh on a motorcycle on Wednesday, they chose not to arrest him immediately. Instead, they discreetly followed him to his secret hideout. After careful planning, they launched a surprise raid and successfully took him into custody.
“This operation was a result of weeks of planning and intelligence sharing,” said IGP Kumar. “The arrest of a hardened operative like Bajrang is a significant achievement in neutralizing the terror-narcotics nexus in Rajasthan.”
