Three drug dealers including a woman were arrested by the police from Mango and Adityapur Thana area in East Singhbhum district and adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district respectively on Saturday.

While a 40-year-old woman, Sabnam Khatoon was arrested from her house on Road No 2 in Azadnagar under Mango Thana area with brown sugar, Afsar Ali and Akhtar Hussain were arrested from Adityapur Muslim Bustee in Adityapur.

Vinay Kumar, OC, Mango Thana stated that they had information about Sabnam's husband, Mohammed Illiyash who was indulged in the sale of brown sugar at home. “As we raided his house, Illiyash escaped. We found 27 small-packets containing the brown sugar from the possession of Sabnam. We, therefore, arrested the woman,” said Kumar while talking to The Telegraph Online.

The arrest of Sabnam was made on the tip given by two women who were arrested for being indulged in the sale of this narcotic drug in the Sitaramdera Thana area.

“On November 4, two women identified as Errik Mary (35) and Chhotki Rao (30) were arrested from the Sitaramdera area. They were drug-peddlers and the police had also recovered over two dozens of small packets containing the brown-sugar from them during the arrest. During interrogation, the duo had divulged that they used to bring the drugs from Adityapur Muslim Bustee in Adityapur. They also revealed that a couple, Mohammed Illiyas and his wife sell the drugs at their house at Azadnagar in Mango. The raid on Illiyas' house was based on this information,” Kumar said.

This information was shared with the Adityapur police who raided the house of Asraf Ali in Adityapur Muslim Bustee.

Rajendra Kumar Mahto, OC, Adityapur Thana, confirmed the arrest of Asraf Ali and one of his associates, Akhtar Hussain with 55 packets of brown sugar.

“We were aware that the sale of brown sugar was on at Adityapur Muslim Bustee even after arresting of the notorious lady drug peddler Dolly in July. But we raided the house of Asraf Ali after getting specific information about the sale of drugs from his house on Friday night,” said Mahto while talking to The Telegraph Online.

Dolly, who is presently in Seraikela divisional jail, was the kingpin in the supply of brown sugar in Adityapur. Dolly was arrested on July 19 following which Asfar Ali had resumed the drug business.