India, April 10 -- Five Tarn Taran cops have been booked for allegedly facilitating the release of the impounded passport of a Batala-born international drug lord who is believed to have fled the country, officials said on Thursday.

The action came two days after Hindustan Times in its report highlighted that how drug lord Shehnaz Singh alias Shawn Bhinder, wanted by US' Federal Bureau of Investigation, managed to flee the country after the suspension of his passport was revoked, triggering allegations of police collusion in his escape.

Tarn Taran senior superintendent of police (SSP) Surendra Lamba said five police personnel have been booked for facilitating the release of Bhinder's passport by issuing a no objection certificate (NOC) ...