Punjab Police Thwarts Criminal Plot Ahead of Independence Day: Five Arrested in Major Anti-Gang Operation

Amidst the ongoing special drives to ensure peaceful celebrations of forthcoming Independence Day-2024 as committed by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police’s Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has successfully averted sensational crimes with the arrest of five persons, including the mastermind Sunil Bhandari alias Nata, who were wanted in several cases of heinous crimes including three recent killings in Ferozepur, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

Remaining four arrested accused have been identified as Rahul Bhandari, Varinder Singh, Karan, Amandeep Singh, all residents of Ferozepur. The AGTF teams have also recovered five sophisticated weapons— including three .30 calibre chinese pistols and two .32 calibre pistols along with 40 cartridges, besides, impounding two vehicles including Mahindra XUV 700 and Innova Crysta.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the accused Nata was mastermind of broad daylight sensational murder of Lovepreet Singh which took place on July 31, 2024 at Ferozepur while accused Rahul Bhandari and Varinder were also involved along with him. Further investigations are being conducted establish the backward and forward linkages in this case, he added.

Divulging the operational details, ADGP AGTF Promod Ban said that acting on tip-off, teams of the AGTF headed by AIG Sandeep Goel, under the supervision of DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar, followed the trail of the accused and managed to apprehend them after intercepting their vehicle near National Highway in Rajpura, when they were trying to flee the state.

He said that all the arrested accused persons have criminal history with accused Nata has been facing around 15 FIRs including those of murder, attempt to murder, etc, accused Rahul Bhandari has around four criminal cases including two of murder and accused Varinder has one criminal case pertaining to murder registered against him, accused Amandeep Singh has around 12 FIRs pertaining to attempt to murder, snatching, NDPS offences and Excise act registered against him, while, accused Karan was involved in two criminal cases including one of attempt to murder.

The ADGP said that during preliminary interrogation of the accused it was revealed that Karan is a distant relative of Sunil Bhandari alias Nata, and he had been providing hideouts to the module, while, Amandeep Singh, who is a driver by profession and was driving one the SUVs when arrested, was helping the accused to flee the state.

A fresh case FIR no 30 dated 14/08/2024 has been registered under section 25(6)(7) of the Arms Act at Police Station Punjab State Crime, SAS Nagar.