Three wanted criminals held after exchange of fire

The Ludhiana police arrested three wanted criminals in an extortion case after an exchange of fire on the Dhandra road in the wee hours on Friday. The suspects suffered bullet injuries and were hospitalised. ADCP Amandeep Singh Brar said when three CIA teams were doing patrolling on the Dhandra road, on suspicion the police signalled a car to stop for checking. Instead of stopping the vehicle, occupants of the car started firing at the team.

In retaliation, the police also fired shots. The suspects suffered bullet injuries. Two received bullet injuries in their legs while one suffered an injury in his arm. Following the exchange of fire, all suspects were arrested.

“The suspects were wanted in an FIR registered at Police Division 6 on the complaint of the owner of an immigration company regarding extortion call from some unidentified persons. Around 2 am this morning, based on a tip-off, the SHO, along with CIA in-charges, who were present near Khedi village on the Dhandra road for checking suspicious persons, tried to stop a Maruti Swift car (without registration number), Following which, three persons sitting in the car started firing at the police and in retaliatory firing by the police, the suspects got injuries in their legs and arm. The suspects are identified as Mudit, Abhijit Mand and Ankush. Many cases of snatching and robbery were registered against them in the past. One .30 bore and a .315 bore illegal weapon seized from the suspects,” Brar said.

Sources said the suspects had demanded Rs 50 lakh extortion from Karan Preet Singh, owner of KS Immigration, located at Gill Chowk, here. The suspects posed themselves as gangster Prabh Dasuwal, who is said to be staying in America at present. Earlier, the Punjab Police arrested several persons with illegal weapons for demanding extortion at the gangster’s behest.

The suspects had a criminal background as Abhijit is facing six cases, including snatching and robberies, Mudit is facing four cases of attempt to murder and snatching while Ankush is facing three criminal cases, including attempt to murder.

One of suspects was shot by rivals in past

On March 9, the police had arrested two wanted criminals, Munish Toni and Sumit, after exchange of fire and they also had an old enmity with Abhijit and Ankush. On February 3, three miscreants had kidnapped 22-year-old Ankush, who was walking towards Beri Colony from Guru Teg Bahadur Chowk, and severely injured him by hitting him on the head with bricks. After getting to know about the fight, when Abhijit, a friend of Ankush, reached the scene, the miscreants opened fire at him. The ADCP (Crime) said Abhijit and Ankush, who were arrested on Friday were complainant in the case which they got registered against members of their rival gang.