Chandigarh, Oct 29 (IANS): The Punjab Police Tuesday claimed to have busted a major racket involving staff of the state's only chemical examination laboratory and drug smugglers operating in the state.

The police said six people, including three officials and an employee of the Kharar-based laboratory, have been booked.

Border range inspector general Ishwar Chander Sharma said the staff of the laboratory at Kharar, 25 km from here, had allegedly connived with drug smugglers to give them favourable reports for drug consignments seized by the Punjab Police and other security agencies.

The police also booked station house officer of the Pathankot Sadar police station, Lalit Kumar Tuesday for his alleged involvement with the laboratory officials and drug smugglers. Raids were being conducted to arrest him. He has been placed under suspension.

The police investigation has found the laboratory staff allegedly manipulated at least 11 reports to favour drug smugglers.

"It has come to light that certain members of the staff of the laboratory at Kharar had a nexus with the drug smugglers and were conniving with them to give chemical reports indicating a sample failed or getting low percentage drug report for financial considerations," a police spokesperson said.

Those booked include laboratory assistant chemical examiner Rajwinder Pal Singh, superintendent R.K. Mishra and senior laboratory technician Lekh Raj. Three others booked, Manjit Singh of district Tarn Taran, Harbhal Singh of Bhikhiwind and Darshan Singh of Nabha town, have been arrested.

The spokesperson said the modus operandi adopted by the gang was that Manjit and Harbhal were in touch with drug smugglers interested in obtaining favourable chemical report from the chemical examiner office for money and would strike a deal.

"Their nexus with the chemical examiner officials was established through Darshan, working as a Class-IV employee at the laboratory. Darshan had a nexus with the laboratory officials," he said.

Deputy inspector general, border range, Lok Nath Angra said raids were being conducted in Mohali, Patiala and Ludhiana to nab laboratory officials who were on the run.

The Punjab Police have recovered nearly 350 kg of heroin and hundreds of kg of puppy husk and other drugs worth several crores of rupees this year.