Amritsar police arrest wanted accused after encounter

By Bharat Sharma

The Amritsar Commissionerate of Police have arrested wanted accused Akashdeep alias Akash following an encounter during which he allegedly fired at police personnel. The accused sustained a bullet injury in his leg during retaliatory firing and was admitted to a government hospital for treatment.

The Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill said Akashdeep, a resident of Kardiyan village in Batala police district, had seven serious criminal cases registered against him at different police stations and had been declared a proclaimed offender by a court.

The accused had recently robbed a money exchanger’s shop in Batala of Rs 2.5 lakh at gunpoint along with his accomplices.

According to the police commissioner, interrogation and intelligence inputs revealed that Akashdeep and four associates were allegedly conspiring to free gangster Angrez from police custody.

Angrez is lodged in jail in around 15 cases, including the Bhola murder case and the Kot Khalsa murder case. The accused allegedly planned to open fire on the police party or create a diversion at a roadside eatery while Angrez was being taken to court for an appearance, enabling his escape.

The Police received information about Akashdeep’s presence in Amritsar. Using CCTV footage and technical tracking, a police team located him and signalled him to stop.

Instead of surrendering, the accused allegedly fired two rounds directly at the police personnel. The police returned fire in self-defence, hitting him in the leg.

The police recovered a .32-bore pistol, two fired cartridge cases, three live cartridges and a scooter bearing an Amritsar registration number from the encounter site.

The Police are verifying the scooter’s documents to establish whether it was stolen or used in another crime.

Gill said the identities of the four remaining alleged accomplices had been established. Special police teams are conducting raids to arrest them.