Nine criminals held, illegal pistols seized

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, February 21

The district police arrested nine criminals from two places and seized nine country-made pistols from their possession last night. The IG, Patiala Zone, AS Rai, said today that the weapons were purchased from western Uttar Pradesh, adding that the vendor had been identified.

Rai said a police party from the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), led by ASI Avtar Singh, arrested Lakhvir Singh, Rajwinder Singh, Sansar Singh and Mandeep Singh at Lehra, while co-accused Sandeep Singh alias Ghora escaped. The police confiscated four pistols and four cartridges.

“The investigation revealed that Lakhvir had purchased the weapon to kill his father, Jarnail Singh, over a property dispute. Rajwinder had bought the pistol to avenge the 1993 murder of his father, Darshan Singh,” the IG added.

Another CIA party, led by ASI Kewal Krishan, arrested Karamjit Singh, Ilyas Khan, Ramzan, Mandeep Singh and Lakhvir Singh with five pistols and an equal number of cartridges.

“Raids were conducted after a tip-off that the accused were planning to commit major crimes. The weapon seller has been identified as Mohammad Akram, a resident of Gangoh in Saharanpur district. We have launched a manhunt to arrest him,” said Rai.

Mandeep Sidhu, SSP, said the Sangrur police had seized 14 illegal weapons, all smuggled from UP, this year so far.

“With the latest arrests, we have prevented two murders and other crimes,” the SSP added. Of the nine arrested, six are out on bail in other cases.