Sultanwind robbery cracked: Key accused held after encounter

The city police claimed to have solved the armed robbery that took place on November 20 at a readymade garment shop in the Sultanwind area, where three youths held the shop owner at gunpoint and looted Rs 2.5 lakh in cash along with a gold bracelet. The police arrested Baljit Singh, alias Buli, who was caught along with a Glock pistol and a bullet-proof jacket.

During questioning, he revealed the names of his associates Kanish of Yasin Road, Varun Bhatia, alias Billa, of Amarkot Joura Phatak and Karan Singh, alias Suraj of Chattiwind. With this information, the police launched a coordinated operation to track down the remaining suspects.

On November 25, a police team was on patrol near the Verka bypass when they signalled a man to stop. Instead of halting, he ran towards nearby fields and fired three rounds at the police. Inspector Baljinder Singh, SHO, B-Division, fired a warning shot, but the suspect continued shooting. To protect the team, the SHO fired back in self-defence, injuring the accused in the leg. The man was immediately taken to the hospital, where he was identified as Kanish. The police recovered a .30 bore pistol from him on the spot. During further questioning, he revealed that he was on his way to meet his associates Suraj and Varun.

Acting on this lead, another police team raided the Vallah area the same evening and arrested both Suraj and Varun, recovering two pistols from them. The investigation has since revealed that Kanish and Suraj had earlier shot and injured a man, Sagar of Krishna Nagar, under the jurisdiction of the Mohkampura police station, where on November 6, an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the BNS and the Arms Act. It also came to light that Kanish and Varun were involved in the snatching of an Activa scooter, reported on November 17 at the Sultanwind police station. Kanish is also wanted in an attempted murder case at the Maqboolpura police station.

The police said the gang’s criminal activities extend further. Suraj and Baljit Singh were previously found involved in the murder of councillor Harjinder Singh, alias Brahman, of Jandiala Guru, a case registered on May 25 at the Chheharta police station. With the fresh arrests, the police have recovered four weapons, including a Glock pistol, two .30 bore pistols and one 9mm pistol, along with a bullet-proof jacket.

All four arrested gang members have criminal records. Baljit Singh, 32, from Jandiala Guru, is unemployed and has eight previous cases registered against him, including under the Arms Act, NDPS Act, murder and snatching. Kanish, 20, has studied up to eighth standard and is unemployed, with three previous cases of snatching and Arms Act violations registered against him.

Karan Singh, alias Suraj, 22, from Chattiwind, works as a waiter and is involved in six earlier cases under the Arms Act, NDPS Act and attempt to murder. Varun Bhatia, 25, has one previous snatching case and works in marketing. Kanish, who fired at the police, remains under medical care due to injuries sustained during the Verka bypass encounter.

The operation was led by DCP (Detective) Ravinderpal Singh, ADCP-3 Jasroop Batth, ACP (East) Gagandeep Singh and Inspector Baljinder Singh, SHO, B-Division police station. The police said investigation is underway.