Nabbed gangster Preet Sekhon ‘extorted’ crores from 25 bizmen, docs

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 29

Notorious gangster Preet Sekhon has been a troublemaker not only for the police department, but also for the trading community, colonisers and doctors owning hospitals in the city.

He extorted huge amount of money from them, which was deposited in a foreign bank account of an international-level hawala operator.

“They, along with their Canada-based accomplice Lakhbir Singh alias Landa Patti, had extorted amount to the tune of several crores from at least 25 persons, including prominent colonisers and doctors besides smugglers as ransom. They have heaved a sigh of relief following his arrest during a joint operation by Organised Crime Control Unit (OCCU) and Amritsar rural police on Tuesday,” said OCCU DSP Balbir Singh.

Ironically, majority of the victims did not inform the police, he said, adding that they could have approached the OCCU. Singh said the money was deposited in a bank account in Surrey, England, which was in the name of Tarlochan Singh. The details of the bank account were being procured.

Daya Singh alias Preet Sekhon Amritsariya, along with his aide Jarmanjit Singh alias Nikka Khaduria of Chamba Khurd village in Tarn Taran, was nabbed in Chamiari village of Ajnala. The police recovered five country-made pistols, double barrel rifle and three mobile phones and a car from their possession. The police also arrested Gurlal Singh of Kamalpur village in Tarn Taran for sheltering him. The accused were living at the residence of the in-laws of Gurlal Singh, who was out on parole and is also wanted in several cases of murder and attempt to murder.

During the raid, the police exercised restraint as there was a woman and her minor child in the house. Though the accused fired around four shots at the raiding police party, the child was narrowly escaped.

Besides Patti double murder case in which a gangster and a SAD worker were shot dead in June, the duo was also involved in 2.5kg gold decoity in Ludhiana last year. He was also involved in the killing of bouncer in Ranjit Avenue area last year while another man was beaten to death outside a restaurant the same year. He had also killed his sister and her mother-in-law. The police said Sekhon had confessed to around eight murders and snatching of luxury vehicles from different persons.

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