Murder accused killed in police encounter at Sherobagha village

A week after a man identified as Varinder Singh, alias Vicky, was gunned down by armed assailants at Chungh village in Mehta, the police have arrested two shooters involved in the case from a hotel in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. They were identified as Bishamberjit Singh and Sharanjit Singh of Rangar Nangal area in Batala.

However, Bishamberjit was killed in an encounter after he was taken for the recovery of a weapon in the Sherobagha village falling under the Beas police station here today, said Satinder Singh, DIG, Border Range. The DIG said during preliminary investigation, Bishemberjit Singh revealed that he had hidden weapon used in the murder at Sherobaga village. Following this, a police team took him to the location for recovery of the weapon.

“However, during this, he attempted to escape from custody after retrieving hidden Glock pistol, while firing at the police party, resulting in a bullet injury to a police personnel in the arm,” the DIG said, while adding that the police party repeatedly warned him to surrender, but as he refused to comply.

He said the police then took controlled action, during which the accused sustained bullet injuries. He was overpowered and disarmed and the weapon recovered from him. The injured accused was immediately taken to the Civil Hospital for medical treatment, where he was declared brought dead by doctors, he said.

SSP, Amritsar (Rural), said third accused Bikramjit Singh, a resident of Sadarang falling under the Rangar Nangal police station in Batala, was still absconding and raids were on to nab him.

Investigation revealed that the two accused were also involved in the firing incident in which Sukhdev Singh, alias Jhanda, who was sarpanch of the Timmowal village on February 14 this year. He was injured in the attack and a case was registered at the Khalchian police station in this regard.

Varinder Singh was also alleged to be member of notorious Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. After he was shot dead, a social media handle in the name of another gangster Gopi Ghanshampuria claimed that gangsters Balwinder Singh, alias Dony Bal, Prabh Dasuwal, Billa Manga and Kaushal Chaudhry takes the responsibility of the murder. It also claimed that Varinder, alias Vicky, was gunned down by their accomplices Daddi Chohan and Afridi Toot. It further stated that Varinder was close to Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and he had given shelters to those who had killed their leader Rana Kandowalia.