Gangster, aides with terror links held

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 8

The police have arrested wanted gangster Baljinder Singh alias Billa, who allegedly had links with “slain” Pakistan-based KLF chief Harmeet Singh Happy and Germany-based Bagga of the KZF. Baljinder’s five aides have also been nabbed.

The arrests were made in a joint operation by the OCCU team from Chandigarh, Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar unit and the Kapurthala police last night. Besides Billa, those arrested have been identified as Sukhjinder Singh of Kamoke Beas village in Amritsar; Mohit Sharma of Kapurthala, Lovepreet Singh alias Lovely of Amarkot in Tarn Taran; and Mangal Singh and Maninderjeet Singh alias Happy.

Billa was wanted in more than 18 criminal cases, including those of murder, attempt to murder and

drug smuggling.

DGP Dinkar Gupta said the police had recovered highly sophisticated weapons, smuggled from Pakistan. The recoveries included two .30 bore drum machine guns, three pistols (marked SIG Sauer made in Germany), two glock pistols (made in Austria), two .30 bore pistols, one .32 bore pistol, one .315 bore rifle, 341 cartridges and two drum magazines, 14 pistol magazines along with Rs 3 lakh and 100 Australian dollars.

Terming it one of the biggest caches of highly sophisticated weapons from a gang, Gupta said the SIG Sauer pistols are in fact being used by members of US Secret Service, which protects the top US leaders, especially the President.

The DGP said they were investigating the role of militants in the supply chain of illegal weapons. Vehicles, including a Toyota Fortuner, Etios Lava and Alto cars, and some fake documents were also seized.

Rich haul

The recovery includes two .30 bore drum machine guns, three pistols (marked SIG Sauer made in Germany), two glock pistols (made in Austria), two .30 bore pistols, one .32 bore pistol, one .315 bore rifle, 341 cartridges and two drum magazines, 14 pistol magazines along with Rs3 lakh and 100 Australian dollars.