ROOPNAGAR, Feb 12: The district police claims to have busted the 23-member `Axle' gang, which had earlier committed a spate of highway robberies in Kharar and Kurali areas last year. An official release issued to the press, here today, revealed that 10 of the 23 members were arrested from near Sarsa Nangal village last night.According to the release, two pistols, one rifle and seven cartridges were recovered from the gangsters, who were arrested from near the site of the bridge being constructed on the Roopnagar-Nangal Highway. Three cycles and a scooter was also recovered from them. The manhunt for finding the remaining 13 members is continuing, the release added.District police chief Jaskaran Singh said that these gangsters were responsible for the spate of highway robberies in 1997-98 in the Kharar and Kurali areas. Jaskaran Singh added that they operated at night, wearing police commando uniforms. The gangsters, who have been accused of looting the offerings of 25 gurdwaras and temples in Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Amritsar and Ludhiana, mostly worked as rag-pickers or daily wage earners to evade arrest. The gangsters have reportedly committed 45 offences. Hailing from Uttar Pardash, these robber were skilled in laying traps on highways with the help of axles. Those arrested are Bihari, Bagwat, Tenny, Dara, Shankar, Baia Lal, Beju, Shivpujan, Heera and Kishori. Bagwat is also a "fugitive" in a murder case in Uttar Pradesh.Bank employee held for fraudLudhiana: Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the police have arrested Kewal Krishan, a cashier in Basti Jodhewal branch of Punjab National Bank on charges of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 14.05 lakh from various bank accounts.According to Gurpreet Deo, S.P (Hq) and in-charge of EOW, the accused had opened various saving accounts in the bank in fictitious names and had managed to transfer funds from many accounts on the basis of forged and fabricated cheques. The accused was remanded to police custody for four days and further investigation was in progress.In another case of fraud and cheating, the police have arrested Sham Lal, a resident of Labour Colony, Dugri. Deo said that a complaint lodged by Harpreet Kaur, councillor had alleged that the accused had grabbed several lakhs of rupees through chit fund group auction scheme started by him. Further investigations are on.
