Jalandhar police crack extortion case, 3 linked to Lakhbir Landa’s group arrested
Avneet Kaur
Jalandhar, June 10
Jalandhar Commissionerate police have nabbed three criminals associated with a Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa’s Group.
Those arrested have been identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopy, Bhupinder Singh alias Bunty and Jagroop Singh alias Joopa.
The Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, during a press conference here, said that Jatinder Singh, a security officer at Kohli Sports Private Limited in the Leather Complex had complained that on June 3 at around 5:15 am two individuals arrived on a motorcycle through the main gate and upon seeing him, the individual sitting behind fired at him with an attempt to murder him.
In a major breakthrough, Jalandhar Commissionerate Police arrests three associates of #Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Landa.@PunjabPoliceInd intensifies its ongoing crackdown on organised crime adopting a Zero-Tolerance Policy on Organised Crime & Extortion Calls
The arrested… pic.twitter.com/6rdVduizR3
— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) June 10, 2024
An FIR under Sections 307, 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act was registered, and later on Sections 386, 387, 120B of the IPC were added. Special teams were formed to trace the case.
CP Sharma said that police had arrested Gurpreet Singh who confessed that after leaving his studies, he got involved with Yadwinder Singh alias Yada and Lakhbir Landa, adding that he along with his associates in Tarn Taran had committed serious crimes such as robbery, extortion, illegal arms and was involved in several firing incidents targeting prominent figures in the city.
He said that four cases were already pending against Gurpreet and to evade arrest, he frequently changed his addresses. Swapan Sharma said that as per orders from Lakhbir and Yadwinder, he continued committing crimes.
CP Sharma further said that Gurpreet was helped by Bhupinder who had admitted that he had committed several crimes. He said 23 cases were pending against Bhupinder and after serving seven years in jail, he was released from jail earlier this year.
Swapan Sharma said that third accused Jagroop was having a property dispute with his uncle, which led to an FIR being registered against him. Subsequently, he became involved with Yadwinder and Lakhbir, and was living under a different identity as eight cases were pending against him.
The Commissioner of Police said that they were assigned tasks by foreign-based handlers to eliminate rival gang members. He further said that they were involved in cross border smuggling of weapons and drugs in 35 criminal cases.
Swapan Sharma said that the accused have been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, adding that further investigation into the case is going on.
