A joint team of Rajasthan ATS and ANTF apprehended Bajrang Singh, a former NSG commando and the primary mastermind behind an illegal cannabis smuggling operation spanning Rajasthan, Odisha, and Telangana. Singh, who was once part of the team that responded to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was arrested in Ratangarh, Churu. Authorities seized 200 kilograms of cannabis from his possession. Singh, a resident of the Sikar district in Rajasthan, had been under police surveillance for some time. A reward of 25,000 rupees had been announced for his capture. The arrest was the culmination of ‘Operation Ganjane,’ conducted by the Rajasthan ATS and Anti-Narcotics Task Force. The operation to capture the former NSG commando lasted two months. Intelligence suggested he employed only Odia cooks to prepare his meals. Information from the cooks’ relatives provided technical leads that led to Singh’s arrest. After retiring, he turned to organized drug trafficking after facing political setbacks and quickly became a large-scale cannabis trafficker. Law enforcement officials believe that this arrest will help curb drug trafficking. They hope it will aid in stopping the large-scale illegal drug trade from Odisha and Telangana to Rajasthan. Singh joined the NSG after completing his 10th grade and was part of the special commando unit that responded to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. After retiring in 2021, his life took a turn, leading him to organized drug trafficking.
