Notorious criminal injured in brief police encounter

Four months after a 13-year-old boy playing a football tournament was shot dead by armed assailants at Khabbe Rajputa village in Mehta, the police have arrested notorious criminal Karan Singh, alias Lumbad, of Chawinda Devi village following a brief exchange of fire here on late Saturday evening.

The police also seized a 9mm pistol along with two live cartridges and a motorcycle from his possession.

He was among the two shooters who had fired at a local resident and Army man Gurpreet Singh, alias Fauji. However, a bullet hit the boy, identified as Gursewak Singh, in the chest who died on the spot.

Giving details, Ravinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jandiala, said a police team set up a check-point on the Khabbe Rajputa-Bohja village road and was checking vehicles when the accused arrived on the scene on his bike. Seeing the police naka, he tried to flee while firing at the police team present there.

He said the police team opened fire in self-defence, leading to an injury on his leg and fall from the motorcycle. Injured Karan Singh was taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Gursewak Singh, alias Sabu (13), a resident of Nangali Kalan village, was participating in a football tournament at Khabbe Rajputa village. The closing ceremony of the tournament was underway when two bike-borne persons with covered faces arrived on the scene. They fired at Gurpreet Singh, who was also injured in the attack.

A bullet hit Gursewak Singh on the chest and he died on the spot.

Police investigation had revealed that Gurpreet Singh had rivalry with some persons, which ultimately led to the incident.