3 linked to Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang held in Dharma murder case

Days after a murder convict, identified as Dharamjit Singh, alias Dharma, of Hukum Chand Colony in Chheharta was shot dead by armed assailants, the Amritsar Police Commissionerate have arrested three persons linked with notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.

The police have also identified their foreign-based handler in the case though the main three shooters were still absconding in the case.

Those arrested were identified as Navraj Singh, alias Noor, Dalwinder Singh, alias Billi, and Shubhdeep Singh, alias Shubh, all residents of Subhash Road, Chheharta. While Navraj was arrested on Friday, Dalwinder and Shubhdeep were arrested today. Incidentally, all the accused did not have any previous criminal record.

Dharma was shot dead on September 26 outside his residence when he returned after dinner with his friends.

“Investigations revealed that Dalwinder Singh, alias Billi, and Shubhdeep Singh, alias Shubh, were key conspirators acting on the directions of Ankush, alias Bahman, who originally hailed from the same locality, but were currently based in Australia,” said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.

He said Billi conducted a recce of the victim with the help of Navraj, alias Noor, while Shubh arranged the motorcycle and weapons for the shooters, identified as Mankaran Singh, Sam, and Joban, who are at large.

The police said the killing was part of a larger organised crime network with links to both local and foreign-based operatives. A hunt has been launched to nab the absconders, said Bhullar.

Dharma was out on parole in connection with the killing of an ASI, Ravinderpal Singh, in December 2012. He was granted parole multiple times in the past also. This time he was released on September 12. Preliminary investigations had revealed that the murder was carried out allegedly at the behest of dreaded gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, currently lodged in Assam jail.

Notorious gangster and alleged drug lord Bhagwanpuria is also an accused in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. He was detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act earlier this year and shifted to Silchar jail from Punjab by the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Immediately after the brutal killing of Dharamjit, a social media post immediately went viral in which gangsters associated with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria claimed responsibility.