Four Bishnoi gang operatives arrested after exchange of fire

The Punjab Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation with the police foiled a terror plot with the arrest of four men after an exchange of fire near Steel Strips Towers on the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway this afternoon.

According to the information, the men are operatives of foreign-based gangster, Goldy Dhillon, who is a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

They have been identified as Harvinder Singh, alias Bhola, alias Honey and Lakhwinder Singh, both residents of Dhakansu Kalan in Rajpura, Patiala; and Mohammad Samir and Rohit Sharma, both residents of Rajpura, Patiala.

The police have also recovered seven 0.32 calibre pistols along with 70 live rounds from their possession.

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the preliminary probe has revealed that the arrested persons were acting on the instructions of their foreign-based handler and were planning targeted attacks in Tricity and Patiala.

Specific intelligence inputs were received indicating the presence of the operatives in a house located along the Dera Bassi-Ambala highway. Acting swiftly, joint teams

of the AGTF and the police led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bikramjit Singh Brar cordoned off the area.

Accused opened

fire at police party

During the joint operation, when the teams attempted to apprehend the accused, they opened fire at the police party, with multiple bullets striking the bulletproof jackets of Head Constable Gagandeep Singh and Constable Gulab Singh.

The police officials further added that suspects Harvinder Singh and Mohammad Samir sustained bullet injuries in retaliatory fire and were subsequently overpowered, along with the remaining two accused.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harmandeep Hans said all the four arrested individuals have criminal histories. “Further probe is underway to identify other operatives of this module”, he said, while adding that more arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days.

A case had earlier been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act at the Dera Bassi police station.