Amritsar police bust Europe-linked extortion gang; 3 arrested

Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled an extortion and armed robbery module, allegedly operated by Europe-based handlers.

Three accused involved in multiple firing incidents, extortion attempts and robberies across Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur were arrested.

The arrested were identified as Gurdev Singh, Jashanpreet Singh and Harparasdeep Singh.

The police also recovered a .30 bore ‘zigana’ pistol, eight live cartridges, a Thar, a motorcycle and two mobile phones from their possession.

The arrests were made during the investigation of a firing and robbery incident at a petrol pump on Loharka Road here.

Police Commissioner, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the accused allegedly opened fire at the petrol pump around 1 am on May 22 and a looted nearly Rs 25,000 at gunpoint before fleeing.

He said as per investigation, the gang was working under the directions of Europe-based handler Judgebir Singh alias Karan, who is allegedly linked with gangsters Doni Bal and Prabh Dasuwal.

Police said extortion calls were being made through associates, while targets were identified and shared through mobile apps.

During the interrogation, police said the accused reportedly confessed to their involvement in a series of firing attacks and armed robberies across Punjab.

Police have linked the gang to at least seven criminal incidents, including attacks on houses, business establishments and petrol pumps in Tarn Taran, Amritsar Rural and Ferozepur districts.

Among the major incidents solved are firing outside residences near Goindwal Sahib, gun attacks on a shop in Rayya and an attack in Ferozepur’s Kamalgarh village.

Police further revealed that Jashanpreet Singh is a maternal cousin of the Europe-based accused Judgebir Singh and was allegedly acting as a key link between the foreign handler and local operatives.

Investigators believe he played an important role in coordinating and executing criminal activities on instructions received from abroad.

A fourth accused, Maheep Singh of Amritsar, has been named in the case and remains absconding. Raids are under way to apprehend Maheep and identify other members of the network.

The Commissioner said further investigations are in progress to uncover the wider network involved in extortion, weapons supply and gang-related crimes in Punjab.