Extortion accused attacks cops, injured in retaliatory firing

Akashdeep Singh, a resident of Mehta Chowk, was injured in a retaliatory fire by the police when he was taken to a spot for the recovery of a weapon here on Saturday. The incident occurred near Arjan Manga village.

Sharing details, SSP (Amritsar Rural) Maninder Singh said several armed persons had fired at a sweetshop owned by Raman Taneja, a resident of Mehta, on April 23. In his complaint lodged with the police, he had stated that he was receiving extortion and threatening calls from a gangster, Jobanjeet Singh, alias Billa. He said he was sitting at his shop when three youths came on a bike and fired two gunshots at his shop and fled the scene.

The police had registered a case of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act at the Mehta police station against Jobanjeet Singh.

During the investigation, the police arrested four suspects Daljeet Singh, alias Gora, Amandeep Singh, and Jugraj Singh. The fourth accused Akashdeep Singh, alias Akash, was arrested by the Batala police in a similar case and was currently lodged in Gurdaspur jail.

Akashdeep was brought on production warrant from Gurdaspur jail and arrested in the case. During interrogation, he confessed to have hidden a Glock pistol near the Arjan Manga village drain. Upon his disclosure, he was taken to the spot for the recovery of the weapon. During the recovery, he pushed a police official and opened fire on the police party after taking out the concealed Glock pistol. The cops had a narrow escape. They acted swiftly and retaliated in self-defence leaving him injured in the leg. The police recovered the Glock pistol with magazine and a live cartridge. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment and a probe was on, said the SSP.