Vehicle lifter nabbed after exchange of fire with police in Amritsar

A vehicle lifter was injured in a brief exchange of fire when he tried to escape from police custody near Tung Dhab drain adjacent to Holy City Colony here last night.

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Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of Sadhra village falling under Patti tehsil in Tarn Taran district was taken to the spot for the recovery of a weapon which he had hidden there.

However, after taking out a loaded pistol from the spot, he fired at the police team led by ASI Ashwani Kumar, in-charge Gumtala police post here, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar while adding that he was injured in the leg after the police team fired in self-defence.

Sharing details, Bhullar said that Gopi was arrested by the police yesterday and a stolen XUV was recovered from him. During preliminary interrogation, he revealed that he had hidden a .32 bore pistol near the drain outside Holy City Colony. Following his disclosure, the police took him to the spot where the incident took place. An injured Gurpreet was admitted to the hospital for treatment, he added. A fresh case of attempt to murder for firing at a police team was registered against him at the Cantonment police station here.

He said the kingpin of the gang Ranjodh Singh alias Yudhvir Singh of Sandhra village was yet to be arrested. A manhunt was launched to arrest him. He was arrested by the Bhikhiwind police in a case registered under the Arms Act in July 2020. He had come out on bail in August 2020.

Earlier, the police had arrested their two accomplices, Sikanderbir Singh alias Sikander of Sandhra village and Armandeep Singh of Loharka Kalan, three days ago. The police had confiscated 285 grams of heroin along with one Glock pistol (9mm) and a pistol of .32 bore along with 25 rounds of ammunition and an SUV from their possession.

Armandeep was earlier arrested by the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in an Arms Act case registered in October 2023. He was released on bail in May 2024.