CHANDIGARH: The 21-day forced clampdown to contain spread of Covid-19 has been enforced on the ground by vigilant squads of Punjab villagers. They have not only guarded their villages from "outsider" virus sources and curbed movement of villagers, but have also caught drug peddlers, including Punjab police cops.

In one such instance, a cop caught by Bathinda villagers has even been dismissed from service.

In Mansa Kalan village of Bathinda district, the people caught constable Bhupinder Singh of Rampura village, Jagseer Singh and Angrej Singh of Dikh village and Avtar Singh of Mari village on April 4 when they were roaming about under the influence of drugs. They were going to collect drugs from Kamaldeep. The dope test of Constable Bhupinder, Jagseer and Kamaldeep Singh of Jatana village had come out positive, and all the 5 have been arrested under the NDPS Act and sent to 14 days' judicial custody.

SSP Bathinda has dismissed Constable Bhupinder from service.

In another case, a newly-recruited police constable Inderjit Singh, a native of Charik village, was caught by Bukanwala villagers with half gram of heroin. An FIR was registered against him on April 5 under various sections of the NDPS Act at Sadar Moga police station. He was sent to 14 days' judicial custody by Moga court on Monday and has been placed under suspension by his department.

In the third case, Kutduna village resident Bhupinder Singh along with Hardip Singh and Nirmal Singh of Baddra village had gone to Kaleke village on April 3 to collect heroin from one Kala Jassad.

Bhupinder and Hardeep were caught by Kaleke villagers and later handed over to the police leading to the recovery of 50 mg heroin and 120 Alprazolam pills. A case has been registered against them at Dhanaula police station under sections of the NDPS Act. They have been sent to 14 days' judicial custody by Barnala court on Monday.

Jassad and Deep, who lives near Dhanaula bus stand, were nominated as accused in the FIR on April 5. Both these accused are yet to be arrested.