In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police apprehended two key operatives of Canada-based gangster Arsh Dalla who is involved in the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau in Faridkot, DGP Gaurav Yadav said on Sunday.
Investigations revealed that the accused also killed Jaswant Singh Gill on November 7 in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh under directions from Dalla.
Both suspects returned to Punjab after the crime, where they were apprehended near Kharar. With their arrest, another possible target killing in the state has been averted, he added.
Two sophisticated weapons have been recovered too.
In a major blow to illegal arms smuggling networks on November 8, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar personnel apprehended two operatives of Portugal-based gangster Manpreet Singh, alias Mannu Ghanshampuria, further uncovering their links to major US-based criminals Balwinder Singh and Prabhdeep Singh.
Those arrested have been identified as Aditya Kapoor, a resident of Lahori Gate in Amritsar, and Ravinder Singh, a resident of Akarpura village in Gurdaspur.
Police teams have also recovered four weapons, including a sophisticated 9MM Glock pistol, two foreign-made .30 bore pistols, and one .32 bore pistol along with five magazines and 14 cartridges from their possession.
DGP Yadav has said in an intelligence-led operation that teams from CI Amritsar laid a special checkpoint at Mehta Road near the cattle market, Amritsar, and apprehended both individuals when they were travelling on their motorcycle bearing registration number PB18Z5033. Police teams have also impounded their motorcycle, he added.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that Kapoor has 12 criminal cases registered against him and was operating on the directions of US-based criminals Balwinder Singh, alias Doni Bal, and Prabhdeep Singh. The latter are close associates of Mannu Ghanshampuria, who is brother of gangster Gopi Ghanshampuria.
The DGP said that these crime syndicates are rivals of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime syndicate.
The probe has also found that the arrested people have received the weapon consignment arranged by Doni Bal and Mannu Ghanshampuria and were hatching a conspiracy to commit some heinous crimes in the state on their directions, he has said.
He said that further investigations are underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case. In this regard, an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act at Police Station State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar.
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 32 Tamil fishermen, five boats seized
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Lankan waters.
Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi hails ISRO's century in rocket launches, urges people to dedicate a day for science
Addressing the 119th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation, saying it has hit the century in space. Last month, the country witnessed the ISRO's 100th rocket launch.
Mizoram student stabbed to death in Kerala, batchmate arrested
A 22-year-old BTech student from Mizoram was stabbed to death near his college in Thiruvananthapuram. The deceased, Valentine, was a student at Rajadhani Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagaroor.
Italy PM slams Left's double standards, says when Trump, Meloni, Modi talk, they are called threat to democracy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused left-wing politicians of being "nervous" over former US President Donald Trump's victory, claiming that conservatives are unfairly labelled as a "threat to democracy" while leftist leaders are celebrated for similar global alliances.
NDRF intensifies rescue operation to save 8 trapped in Telangana tunnel
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on Sunday intensified rescue efforts to save eight persons trapped in an under-construction tunnel after a portion of its roof collapsed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on February 22.
Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after 'humiliating' hostage handovers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be delayed until Hamas ceases its "humiliating ceremonies" during the release of Israeli hostages under the ceasefire deal.
PM Modi on 3-day visit to MP, Bihar, Assam from today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Assam from February 23 to 25 to participate in several developmental projects and inaugurate business summits.
US senators call out China for 'weaponising' UN 1971 resolution, vow support to Taiwan
The United States Senators accused China of subverting United Nations Resolution 2758 in an attempt to isolate Taiwan. The senators proposed a resolution in the Senate reaffirming US support for Taiwan. The resolution opposes China's attempt to prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations.