Gangster not linked to Balwinder murder: Cops

Jaggu Bhagwanpuria was brought on production warrant from Patiala

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, October 31

The district police have found no involvement of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in the murder of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh, who was shot on October 16 on his residence-cum-school premises here.

Jaggu was brought on a two-day production warrant from the Patiala jail yesterday by the Goindwal Sahib police.

A senior police officer said Jaggu, during interrogation, gave information regarding activities of gangsters involved in the smuggling of drugs and weapons from across the border.

Jaggu also divulged details of his links with anti-social elements in the area and the modus operandi involved in the cross-border smuggling, the officer said.

Besides Jaggu, gangster Iqbal Singh Afreedi had been active in the area for around two decades. Afreedi got into illegal activities in his teens and managed to raise a gang of 50 associates.

Over the period, Afreedi established contacts with leaders of the ruling political party and his photos with Khadoor Sahib MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki had gone viral on the social media.

Jaggu was brought on a production warrant as the district police wanted information about gang wars in the area between 2016 and 2018. They also wanted information about the contacts of the Afreedi and Jaggu gangs, the officer said.