Post-Dhakoli encounter, shock, fear grip residents

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, February 8

A day after dreaded gangster Ankit Badhu was killed in an encounter by the Punjab Police at Peer Muchalla near Zirakpur, fear gripped the area.

Immediate neighbours of the gangster, who was putting up at Mahalaxmi Apartments in Dhakoli with his two aides, had no idea about them and were shocked to learn that Ankit was a dreaded gangster wanted by the Rajasthan Police.

Monu, whose sister stayed on the first floor of the society, said he never bothered to ask about the youths as they used to remain inside most of the time.

A youth staying adjacent to the gangster’s rented flat said Ankit used to come late in the evening and never spoke to anyone.

PR Chauhan, a retired Army personal, said, “We always thought it was a safe place. But after this incident, I feel there is a need for more police patrolling”.

Sanjeev Maan, a property dealer, who witnessed the entire shootout, said he was still in a state of shock. Narrating his ordeal, he said, “I was at a nearby shop when I heard gunshots. I immediately hid myself and the entire area was sealed by the Punjab Police”. Maan said he did not know what the firing was all about.

Moreover, the fact that the gangster used to visited the flat frequently at Dhakoli has exposed the lackadaisical attitude of the police, who failed to get the tenant verification done. The beat staff, who are expected to personally know those residing in the area, also failed to gather information about the dreaded gangster.

Inspector General of Police (Ropar Range), V Neeraja, accompanied by senior functionaries of the district police visited the Community Health Centre, Dhakoli, to enquire about the well-being of the two minor girls, who were held hostage by the slain gangster at gunpoint. Later, Neeraja, along with Harmandeep Hans, ASP, Dera Bassi, visited the encounter site.

Harmandeep Hans said the slain gangster had earlier shot a person in Bahadurgarh on Wendesday and came to Dhakoli to stay with his aides Jarman and Gurinder Singh, both proclaimed offenders from Tarn Taran.

The ASP said they had recovered three pistols and a large amount of ammunition from the room where the dreaded gangster was staying with his two aides. The ASP added that they had sophisticated weapons and the police would investigate about it.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the Arms Act against Jermanjit Singh and Gurinder Singh at the Dhakoli police station. The duo was produced in a local court, which sent them to 10-days police custody.

Meanwhile, the ASP assured area residents of maintaining of the law and order and said there was no need to panic.

Harmandeep Hans said, “The police had cordoned off the place. Around 6 30 pm, the gangsters were told to surrender, but they opened fire at the cops. The police team retaliated.”

The body of the slain gangster was kept in a mortuary at the Civil hospital, Dera Bassi, for a post-mortem.