PUNJAB POLICE AVERT POSSIBLE CONTRACT KILLING; TWO HELD WITH PISTOL

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKE PUNJAB A CRIME-FREE STATE AS PER VISION OF CM BHAGWANT MANN

— ARRESTED ACCUSED WERE HATCHING A CONSPIRACY TO KILL MALOUT-BASED PERSON ON DIRECTIONS OF USA-BASED MAN

CHANDIGARH/BATHINDA, February 21:

As part of the ongoing drive against anti-social elements, Punjab Police have thwarted a major attempt of contract killing with the arrest of two persons after recovering a .32 bore pistol along with one magazine and four live cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Tarandeep Singh alias Laddi of Jaito in Faridkot and Kuldeep Singh alias Kali of Sri Muktsar Sahib. Both the arrested accused persons are history-sheeter and wanted by the Punjab Police in extortion case and Haryana Police in car snatched on gunpoint case.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that in an operation led by Counter Intelligence Unit of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Police teams have arrested both the accused persons, who were hatching a conspiracy to kill Malout-based person on directions of USA based Niranjan Singh alias Nick.

Preliminary investigations suggest that accused Nick wanted to settle scores with his relative and had paid Laddi and Kali to kill him, he added. He said that accused Laddi had bought the pistol and ammunition from Madhya Pradesh to commit the contract killing.

Divulging more details, AIG Counter Intelligence Bathinda zone Simratpal Singh Dhindsa said that accused Nick has so far sent at least Rs 2.50 lakh in the bank of Laddi’s mother for purchasing weapon from MP and other expenses incurred to accomplish the task. Further investigations are on, he said.

Meanwhile, a case FIR no. 7 dated 21-02-2023 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station SSOC Fazilka.