3 linked to extortion gang arrested, 9 pistols seized

The Kapurthala police have arrested three members of the Jagga Fukiwal extortion gang and seized nine country-made pistols along with cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Amandeep, alias Aman, a resident of Tashpur in Sultanpur Lodhi, Harjit Singh, alias Jeeta, a resident of Khanpur Dhadha in Nakodar, Jalandhar, and Lovepreet, alias Baba, a resident of Mohalla Baghichi in Jamsher, Jalandhar.

DGP Yadav said the accused Amandeep was the active member of the Jagga Fukiwal extortion gang in Sultanpur Lodhi and was instrumental in supplying weapons to local gangs to carry out firing and extortion activities.

The DGP said further investigation was under way to trace links in this case to dismantle the entire illegal arms network.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora said following reliable inputs, police teams had arrested the key accused Amandeep from link road, Talwandi Mehma in Kapurthala, and seized four pistols from his possession.

During investigation, accused Amandeep revealed that he had supplied two pistols to his associates Lovepreet and Harjit Singh, who were also arrested, he said, adding that police teams had recovered one .32 bore country-made pistol and one .315 bore country-made pistol from their possession.

The SSP said further interrogation of Amandeep had led to the recovery of three more country-made pistols buried in his house. A probe has revealed that the accused were purchasing the country-made weapons from Madhya Pradesh to supply these to criminal elements on the direction of their foreign-based handler, he said.

Two seperate cases have been registered.