Tarn Taran gangster shot in Balachaur police encounter

The Nawanshahr police on Saturday neutralised a dreaded gangster during a fierce encounter near Balachaur in SBS Nagar. The deceased, identified as Varinder Singh, a resident of Pandori village in Tarn Taran district, was wanted in multiple heinous cases, including the Zadla grenade attack and the murder of Yuvraj Singh, Sarpanch of Cheema Khurd village.

DIG Satinder Singh, while talking to The Tribune on Saturday late evening, said Varinder had deep links with the notorious gangster network led by Manu and Gopi and was actively involved in violent crimes across Punjab.

Intelligence inputs had indicated his movement in the Balachaur area following which a police team set up a checkpoint.

When signalled to stop, the gangster, who was riding a motorcycle, allegedly opened fire at the police party in a bid to escape. Officers retaliated swiftly, triggering a brief but intense exchange of gunfire. During the encounter, Singh sustained critical bullet injuries and was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital. However, despite medical intervention, he succumbed to his injuries.

Senior officers, including DIG Satinder Singh and SSP Nawanshahr Mehtab Singh Virk, reached the spot soon after the incident to oversee the situation. Addressing the media, DIG Singh stated that the operation was a major success in the ongoing crackdown on gangsters operating with the backing of Pakistan’s ISI and handlers based abroad.

“The accused was a wanted criminal who had been spreading terror in the region. Today’s encounter is part of our sustained campaign to dismantle networks of hardcore criminals and restore peace in Punjab,” DIG Singh said.

From the site, the police recovered a motorcycle, a pistol, and several cartridges, confirming the exchange of fire. Investigations are underway to trace the larger network of associates and to establish any recent plans of disruption that the gangster may have been involved in.

The authorities said the elimination of Varinder Singh is expected to deliver a serious blow to gang operations in the Doaba region, where his presence had been a constant source of fear. The police have intensified patrolling and intelligence surveillance to ensure that no retaliatory activities follow in the wake of the encounter.

With this operation, the Nawanshahr police have reinforced their commitment to curbing gangsterism, which has emerged as a serious law-and-order challenge in Punjab in recent years.