Two wanted gangsters shot dead in Ludhiana encounter; ASI injured in the crossfire

Chahal said that the encounter took place near Tibba bridge towards Doraha town when the police team led by CIA inspector Kulwant Singh was chasing them. A cop – identified as ASI Sukhdeep Singh – was also injured, said the CP. The gangsters were history-sheeters and several cases were registered against them, he added.

“A team led by CIA Staff-1 in-charge Kulwant Singh was chasing the accused who were trying to escape on a two-wheeler. The police team intercepted and asked them to surrender. Instead of putting down their weapons, they opened fire on the police personnel and injured ASI Sukhdeep Singh. The police retaliated and shot them dead. At least 15 bullets were fired from both sides. The accused had automatic pistols on their person and the police recovered them. A forensic team has been called to examine the weapons and the crime spot,” said Chahal.

The police have arrested five other accused in the industrialist’s abduction case, he added.

They were identified as Jatin alias Nepali, Premjit, Mantosh, Aditya and Mandeep.

Police at the encounter spot (Express photo)

On November 17, a group of miscreants had abducted industrialist Sambhav Jain from Basti Jodhewal area of Ludhiana and demanded ransom from his family. However, after the family informed the police, the accused shot him in the leg and dumped him near Vishwakarma Chowk. An FIR in the case was registered under several sections of IPC and Arms Act at Basti Jodhewal police station.

The injured ASI was admitted to Dayanand Medical College & Hospital (DMCH) where the CP went to call on him.

Ludhiana DCP Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said that a total of five FIRs were previously registered against both gangsters, including snatching, robbery and drug peddling.

“Shubham was booked in two previous cases and Sanjeev Kumar in three,” said Teja.

Fresh FIR registered against both gangsters

After the alleged encounter, Ludhiana police registered a fresh FIR against both deceased gangsters for attempt to murder and other offences under IPC and Arms Act at Sahnewal police station. The FIR has been registered on the statement of inspector Kulwant Singh.

Inspector Kulwant Singh in his statement said that he had received a tip-off that both gangsters, who were absconding, were arriving at Tibba bridge near Doraha on a two-wheeler. A checkpoint was established to intercept them but on seeing the police party, they turned their vehicle towards the canal, said Singh. He further said that soon both started firing at the police party and one bullet hit ASI Sukhdeep Singh on his left arm following which police also started firing in self-defense, killing both gangsters on the spot. Both have been booked under sections 307, 353,333,332,186 of IPC and 25,27,54,59 of Arms Act.

SIT constituted to check linkages of gangsters, says DGP Shukla

A day after the alleged encounter, Punjab special DGP (law and order) Arpit Shukla while addressing a press conference at police headquarters in Chandigarh, said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the “backward and forward linkages of both gangsters killed in the encounter”. The SIT will be headed by Ludhiana DCP (rural) Jaskiranjit Singh Teja and other members include ADPC Rupinder Kaur Sran, ADCP-2 Suhail Qasim Mir and SHO Dehlon.

DGP Shukla said that Ludhiana police were trying to nab both gangsters in Sahnewal area when they opened fire. “Police opened fire in self-defense and both got injured. They were taken to the hospital but declared dead,” said DGP Shukla. “Punjab Police will be taking the strictest possible action against such anti-social elements. Our work is to nab criminals and if they think that they can attack police and get away with it, they are mistaken” he added.

Shukla further said that five other accused arrested in the abduction case also have previous criminal record and FIRs are registered against them. “The probe is on to check all linkages of this gang,” he said.

Shukla said that on November 17, these seven gang members abducted industrialist Sambhav Jain, blindfolded him and then took him to different locations in his own car. After Jain resisted, they shot him in the leg. Then they called Jain’s family and demanded Rs 5 crore ransom, said the DGP. After noticing that Jain was undergoing extreme blood loss, they dumped him near Ramgarhia College and fled, he said, adding that two 7.62 bore pistols and six live cartridges were recovered from the encounter spot.

Had disowned him, says father of killed gangster

Meanwhile, Ram Kumar, father of the killed gangster Sanjeev alias Sanju Bahman, said that he had disowned his son some years back and he wasn’t in touch with him since long. “We have no idea where he was living nowadays. I had disowned him because we were from an underprivileged family and I wanted him to work and earn for the family but he had started indulging in fights and violence due to which police had started harassing us also,” said the father.

“My nephew told me last night that my son was killed in an encounter. Earlier he used to be indulged in petty fights but I have no idea how he got involved in big crimes. I cannot comment if he was actually involved in abducting the industrialist. I also don’t know if he was good or bad, but he is gone now. Such things happen with the poor only,” said Kumar, who lives in a dilapidated house in Nandpuri area. Bahman’s younger brother works a a driver.