Landa’s operative nabbed following police encounter

The Amritsar (city) police commissionerate on Saturday claimed to have averted a major target killing with the arrest of five persons, including a juvenile, in this connection.

Those arrested were identified as Karandeep Singh, alias Karan (18), of Chaudhariwala in Sarhali in Tarn Taran, Gursewak Singh, alias Balli (18), Arshdeep Singh (19) of Luhar (Tarn Taran) and Amritpal Singh (18) of Naushehara Pannuan.

The accused were allegedly operatives of foreign-based gangster-turned terrorist Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, Harike and Satbir Singh, alias Satta, Naushehra.

Karan was arrested following an encounter during a search operation in Kot Khalsa area falling under the Islamabad police station here after the cops received a specific input that he was hiding in the area. A police team tried to arrest him, but the accused opened fired on them, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar on Saturday. He said ASI Gurjinder Singh fired in self-defence at him from his service weapon leaving him injured. He suffered a bullet injury in the right leg and was admitted to a hospital.

Sharing details, Bhullar said as per an initial probe, Karandeep was associated with the Landa Harike gang, members of which introduced him to the foreign-based handlers. He was tasked to carry out target killings in the area and all the logistic support was provided to him by his foreign-based handlers, who handed over weapon and cartridges to him to execute killings. The arms and ammunition was provided through cut-out modules at different locations. They did not know each other. During investigations, the police arrested Gursewak, Arshdeep, Amritpal and a juvenile and their interrogation led the police to Karandeep.

A case under the Arms Act and other relevant sections of the BNS was registered against them at the Division A police station here.

The police also recovered a Glock pistol, 13 live cartridges and two empty shells from the encounter scene.