Launching a crackdown heavily on the persons indulging in illegal mining causing ecological damage and revenue loss to the state, Khanna Police on the directions of Enforcement Director (Mining) RN Dhoke, Punjab, have arrested Samrala resident over his involvement in activities pertaining to illegal sand mining surrounding Sutlej.The accused has been identified as Gurinder Singh @ Ginda S/o Balwinder Singh R/o Village Bhorla Tehsil Samrala and cops have seized four illegal country made weapons, ammunition and Swift Dzire (DL-1-ZA-0673).Disclosing further details in this regard, Enforcement Director (Mining) RN Dhoke said that they have received a tip-off about some unscrupulous elements are involved in illegal mining in Rahon area of district SBS Nagar following which the information was later shared with SSP Khanna Gursharandeep Singh Grewal, to take stern action against the violators immediately.He said that acting swiftly on input, SSP formed a team led by Insp Rajesh Thakur SHO Machhiwara Sahib who along with police party set up the police checking near Rahon river bridge Machhiwara Sahib and apprehended Gurinder Singh with illegal weapons and car. On his frisking, 02 pistols .32 bore, 02 Magazines, 10 live cartridges and 02 pistols .315 bore, 02 live Cartridges were recovered by cops, he added.
He further revealed Gurinder is kingpin of the gang operating in Rahon area along with his accomplices. Gurinder Singh is a hardcore criminal and wanted in many cases of murder and robbery in Punjab and Gujarat, he said and added that a case under sections of 379 IPC and Arms Act has been registered against Gurinder at Machhiwara Sahib Police Station. Dhoke added while quizzing, Gurinder revealed that he was doing illegal mining with Raju Gujjar R/o Ratnana, PS Rahon, SBS Nagar and Karanvir Singh @ Kavi R/o Balion, PS Samrala and others in the river bed of Sutlej in Rahon area. Further, he said that Gurinder is wanted in high profile murder case in Gujarat when he along with two others killed Ashish Maharaj with whom local dhaba owners had a property dispute.In this connection a criminal case is registered against them at PS Mandvi, District Kachh, Gujarat. Ginda is also an absconder in this murder case and evading his arrest since then by hiding at different places. Gurinder had snatched an Ertiga car at gunpoint near Laddowal Toll Plaza, Ludhiana. He had also fired gun shots to create a panic in general public near Garshankar along with his companion gangster Gurjinder Singh Sonu. It has come to light that he had planned to rob an NRI family of Una at gunpoint for cash.Gurinder Ginda is being questioned for his links with other criminals in the region and with the suppliers of illegal weapons in MP and UP.