The Pathankot Police have arrested three smugglers after they tried to escape after opening fire at a police team deployed at Special Police Checking near Jhakholahri here. The Police have also recovered 265 grams of Heroin, one USA made illicit 7.62mm pistol and five cartridges (two live) besides impounding their Hyundai i20 Car.The arrested persons have been identified as Karandeep Singh alias Karan, Mandeep Singh alias Happy and Hardeep Singh alias Saba, all residents of village Mehma Chak in district Gurdaspur.The incident took place at around 7.40 pm on Saturday evening, when the Police Party led by Incharge CIA Staff Navdeep Singh had laid a trap on criminals and anti-social elements near Jhakholahri in Pathankot.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pathankot Gulneet Singh Khurana said that while checking vehicles, the Police team stopped an i20 Car without a number plate coming from Amritsar side. “There were three persons sitting in the car and the person sitting on the passenger seat fired two bullets straight at the police party and tried to escape, however, they were bravely intercepted by the police team,” he said.
The SSP said that the Police team had a narrow escape and is safe, while the 3 criminals have been taken into custody and further investigations are on.SSP Gulneet Singh said that the preliminary investigations revealed that Karandeep is a history-sheeter and close has links with the smugglers across the International Border in Pakistan.Karandeep has been facing at least 12 criminal cases, including Murder and Attempt to Murder, under Arms Act and NDPS Act at various Police stations of Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts and he is also wanted in FIR no. 98, dated 20.08.20 under section 21 of the NDPS Act Police Station Special Task Force, SAS Nagar in which 4 kg 210 grams heroin was recovered by STF Amritsar. While, another accused Mandeep Singh has been facing about six criminal cases including of Murder and attempt to Murder and under the Arms Act as well.Meanwhile, the case has been registered under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 186 (Whoever voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his public functions), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), section 25 of the Arms Act and sections 21-29-61-85 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Sadar Pathankot.