Criminal, his two aides killed in police encounter in Fatehgarh Sahib

Punjab Police constable Kuldeep Singh Bajwa had attained martyrdom in the line of duty at Phillaur while combating the anti-social elements on January 8. The Punjab Police on January 14 had already arrested key accused of Phillaur shoot-out identified as Yuvraj Singh alias Jora.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that in an intelligence-led police operation at 5:10 pm on Wednesday, AGTF team headed by ADGP Promod Ban and assisted by AIG Sandeep Goel, DSP Bikram Brar, DSP Rajan Parminder and Inspector Phushpinder Singh had traced the location of accused Teja and were chasing the vehicle, in which he along with his associates was travelling.

The DGP added that in an attempt to escape, Teja and his accomplices had opened fire at the police party. The DGP said that police teams had fired in return in self-defence and during exchange of fire, Teja and his one accomplice were neutralised on the spot while one had suffered injuries and was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. Police teams have also recovered six pistols from their vehicle.

ADGP Promod Ban said that Tajinder Teja is a history sheeter and facing more than 38 criminal cases across the state. Accused Teja was also handling an independent gang associated with Gurpreet Sekhon gang.

He said that the identity of other two deceased persons was yet to be ascertained. Further investigations were on, he added.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had visited the house of the martyr at his native village and handed over a cheque for Rs 2 crore to the distressed family as a mark of respect for his supreme sacrifice for the country. He had also announced construction of a stadium and named a road after martyr constable Kuldeep Singh Bajwa.