Raids on to nab 6 accused in Eastwood armed attack

In a major breakthrough in the investigation of the violent armed attack in Eastwood village near Phagwara, the police have identified five more accomplices of the main accused Sukha of village Talhan linked to the assault on security guard-cum-bouncer Sandeep Kumar. The hunt is on to nab the accused — Sukha, Sahbha, Rakshat, Kartarpur, Neeraj and Raj Verma — across Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts, said SSP Gaurav Toora. He said the accused have been booked under the BNS.

According to SP Phagwara Madhvi Sharma, Sukha, who had previously worked as security man at an ice cream parlour in Eastwood village, had been dismissed from the job due to repeated disputes with colleagues.

The police reports indicate that Sukha had made several attempts to return to the parlour but was stopped each time by on-duty bouncers. Investigators believe the recent attack was a revenge-driven act.

DSP Bharat Bhushan stated that Sukha went to the parlour's security post on Tuesday evening accompanied by five or six accomplices armed with sticks and a firearm. Witnesses reported that a tall youth with long hair fired a bullet from the close range, which struck the mobile phone in Sandeep Kumar’s pocket. The impact caused the phone to explode, inflicting both gunshot and burn injuries.

A cartridge shell was recovered from the site that has been sent for forensic analysis.

Madhvi confirmed that the police have identified five more accomplices and are conducting raids at multiple suspected hideouts.

Sandeep Kumar, the injured guard, was admitted to Johal Hospital in Jalandhar, where he underwent surgery late Tuesday night. The hospital authorities have confirmed that his condition is stable, and he is recovering under close medical supervision.