As part of the ongoing drive to make Punjab a crime-free state launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police have averted the possible target killing in Uttarakhand with the arrest of two gang members associated with designated-terrorist Arsh Dala and Gangster Sukha Duneke, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.
Those arrested have been identified as Shimla Singh of Village Granghana in Mansa and Harjeet Singh alias Gora of village Bhadoliyanwali in Fatehabad, Haryana. Police teams have also recovered three pistols including one .32 bore, .315 bore (country-made), one 12 bore pistol (country-made) along with live cartridges and magazines and Rs 1.90 lakh cash, which was provided for contract killing.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that following reliable inputs, Counter Intelligence Bathinda along with Bathinda district Police laid a Naka at village Jassi Pauwali in Bathinda and arrested Shimla Singh, when he was going to meet his friend.
Divulging more details, AIG Simratpal Singh said that Shimla Singh revealed that Arsh Dala assigned him a task to kill Kashipur-based businessman and asked him to meet his associate Sadhu Singh, who is currently lodged in Haldwani Jail, for logistic support.He said that Arsh Dala had sent Rs 7 lakhs to Shimla Singh in two instalments Rs 4 lakhs and Rs 3 lakhs to carry out the assigned contract killing, he added.
The AIG said that accused Shimla Singh provided Rs 4 lakh to an unknown person on the directions of Sukha Duneke, while Rs 3 lakh rupees to Harjeet Singh alias Gora to arrange six weapons for the task.
Later, Police teams with the help of Haryana Police have also arrested Harjeet Gora from his village in Haryana, he said, while adding that further investigations are on and more recoveries are expected.
A case FIR no. 48 dated 20-04-2023 has been registered under sections 25(6), (7)/ 54/59 of the Arms Act and section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station Sadar Bathinda.