The North News
Chandigarh, January 6
The Punjab police claimed to have foiled a planned targeted killing with the arrest of three men allegedly linked to the Arsh Dalla gang, seizing four illegal pistols and ammunition in Bathinda district. The operation was carried out by Counter Intelligence (CI) Bathinda in coordination with the district police, as part of the state government’s drive to improve law and order under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the arrests had prevented a targeted attack that was being planned by the accused. Police recovered four pistols — including a Glock, a Zigana, and two country-made weapons — along with four magazines and 26 live cartridges. A Hyundai Verna car without a registration number was also seized.
The accused have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, originally from Bathinda and currently residing in Canada, Gurwinder Singh of Kotshamir village, and Gagandeep Singh of Bhokhra village, all in Bathinda. Police said Kuldeep Singh had recently travelled from Canada to execute the planned shooting.
Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal said questioning had revealed the suspects’ involvement in an ongoing inter-gang rivalry. An FIR has been registered at the Thermal police station in Bathinda, and further investigations are under way to establish forward and backward linkages.
Assistant Inspector General Avneet Kaur Sidhu said police acted on specific intelligence inputs indicating that shooters linked to the Arsh Dalla gang were in possession of illegal weapons and preparing for a targeted attack. Acting on the information, police teams set up a checkpoint near Sucha Singh Nagar on Goniana Road, where the three men were arrested.
The case has been registered under sections of the Arms Act, and police said efforts were continuing to identify other members of the network.
