Miscreants who attacked Batala Cong leader identified, one held

The Batala police, in what residents and officers claim as a major breakthrough against perpetrators of organised crime in and around the city, have identified the two accused involved in attacking a prominent Congress leader Guddu Seth on November 21.

The incident had sent shock waves among residents as Guddu Seth is a prominent politician of the area. The assailants had come on a motorcycle and fired several rounds at Seth’s shop at Hansli gate knowing that he was sitting inside. He had escaped unhurt.

He had received an extortion call a few days before the firing incident occurred at his telecom shop near Hansli gate in which one of the accused had demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore.

Seth had immediately reported the matter to the cops. One of the accused, Kawaljit Singh, a resident of the neighbouring Tarn Taran district, has been apprehended by the cops. The police are not disclosing the identity of the second accused fearing that the “investigations may be compromised”. Kawaljit Singh is a close associate of gangster Nishan Singh Joriyan.

SSP Dr Mehtab Singh said he was apprehended after an exchange of fire. Police officers have stumbled upon some vital clues pertaining to the whereabouts of the second accused and hoped to nab him soon. “We have tangible information about his movements. I have formed various teams and we expect to arrest him within a few days,” said the SSP.

A case under various sections of the BNS and the Arms Act has been registered against the duo at the Civil Lines police station.

Extortion calls being made by organised gangs in this industrial city have become a major headache for the cops. Two groups of gangsters, one led by Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and the other by foreign-based Donny Bal, are engaged in a turf-war in the town. Police sources reveal a majority of the extortion calls are made by henchmen of these two hoodlums.