Chandigarh: In a significant breakthrough against organised crime, the Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has arrested two alleged associates of a jailed gangster and recovered two country-made .32 bore pistols along with five live cartridges from their possession in Bathinda.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Kuldeep Singh alias Cheema of Akalia Kalan village in Bathinda and Abhimaan Singh alias Abhi of Khundehalal village in Sri Muktsar Sahib.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that the duo was linked to a criminal network allegedly being operated by a jailed gangster active in the Ferozepur region. He added that Kuldeep Singh has a criminal background and is involved in multiple cases related to attempted murder and violations of the Arms Act.
According to the police, AGTF personnel on routine patrol spotted two suspicious individuals hiding in bushes near the Cantonment Bypass Ring Road in Bathinda. On seeing the police team, the suspects allegedly became nervous and attempted to conceal themselves, prompting officers to apprehend and frisk them.
Additional Director General of Police (AGTF) Promod Ban said the search led to the recovery of illegal firearms and live ammunition. Further investigations are underway to trace the network’s backward and forward linkages and identify other associates.
A case under Section 25 of the Arms Act has been registered at Civil Lines Police Station, Bathinda.
