US-based man suspecting wife’s affair with victim’s brother had hired gangster

The arrest of 10 suspects, including sharpshooters, in a targeted shooting case led to the startling disclosures how a person sitting in the US, Sarabjit Sabi, and his associate Kamal Ghago hired a gangster wanted by the Punjab Police, Sonu Khatri, hiding abroad for executing the contract killing of a 20-year-old youth, Jaspreet Singh, at Chak Lohat village in Machhiwara on July 29. Fortunately, Jaspreet despite facing five bullets survived the attack.

SSP, Khanna, Jyoti Yadav, SP (Investigation) Pawanjit, Samrala DSP Tarlochan Singh and DSP (Investigation) Mohit Kumar Singla addressed a press meet regarding the matter on Wednesday.

The SSP told The Tribune that Jaspreet’s brother Sunny and relative Ginda were staying in the US and the key conspirator, Sarabjit Sabi, who also stays in the US, suspected that his wife was having an affair with Sunny and Ginda. To take ‘revenge’ from the duo, Sabi hired notorious gangster Sonu Khatri and gave him a handsome amount to kill brothers of both of them, staying in Machhiwara and Chamkaur Sahib, respectively.

“Khatri further contacted another gangster Kamal Ghago, who also stays in the US. Afterwards, the latter contacted his accomplices staying in Punjab, who hired sharpshooters Sanju, Kalu, Gautam and Salim in Punjab and also transferred some amount in their bank accounts. Even weapons were also provided to them,” she said.

The SSP claimed that the questioning of the suspects led to the disclosures that the shooters had also shot at Ginda’s brother Lovepreet Singh in Chamkaur Sahib in May and a case was reportedly lying unsolved. With the arrest of the suspects, it was also cracked. The Khanna police would intimidate the Chamkaur Sahib police about the development. After attacking Ginda’s brother, shooters shot at Sunny’s brother Jaspreet at Chak Lohat village. However, both survived the attacks.

Meanwhile, Jyoti Yadav clarified that initially the victim’s family got registered a case against Jaspreet’s cousins Jaswant, Diwan and Lakhbir and another person, Bhupinder, suspecting their role in the contract killing due to the long-pending land dispute but during the probe, they were found innocent. They would be absolved from the charge.

DSP Tarlochan Singh said Katia and Vicky of Ludhiana, conducted a recce at Chak Lohat village. The attack was executed at Jaspreet’s residence by Sanju, Kalu, Gautam, Saleem Mohammad and one unidentified person. The weapons used were supplied by Inderpreet Singh and Hardeep Singh.

About nabbed suspects

Saleem was arrested from the residence of Jatinder Singh, alias Sunny, in Giddarpindi, Jalandhar. The latter was also arrested for harbouring him. Tarun Kanojia, alias Katia, was arrested from Delhi. He is also wanted in a murder case of 2020 in Hoshiarpur. Gautam Kumar was arrested from Delhi and Vicky, alias Saman, was arrested from Ludhiana. Vicky is wanted in a drug case. Nazia, wife of Saleem, was arrested from Rurki village, Jalandhar, after recovery of a .32 bore pistol and two cartridges. Irfan Mohammad, Saleem’s younger brother, was found in the possession of four rounds. Anwar Mohammad, another brother of Saleem, was arrested after the recovery of the Maruti Alto car used in the crime. Inderpreet from Langroia village and Hardeep from Mehtpur village, who supplied the weapons and handled the ransom money, were arrested from Nawanshahr.

Arrests crack past cases

Arrest of Vicky and Katia also led to solving of the May 9 firing case at Ginda’s brother Lovepreet at Chamkaur Sahib. Gautam, Katia and Chilli were also involved in a recent firing incident outside a house in Nawanshahr. Gautam, Katia and Saleem had also opened firing outside a residence in Rurka village in Jalandhar.