Amritsar, August 30 – The Amritsar City Police on Friday claimed to have foiled a major target killing plot with the arrest of five operatives of the Landa Harike gang, including a juvenile.
The accused were identified as Karandeep Singh alias Karan (18) of Chaudhariwala in Sarhali, Tarn Taran; Gursewak Singh alias Balli (19) of Luhar, Tarn Taran; Arshdeep Singh (19) of Luhar, Tarn Taran; and Amritpal Singh (18) of Naushehra Pannuan.
Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the operation began after specific inputs that Karandeep was hiding in the Kot Khalsa area under Islamabad police station. When a team attempted to arrest him, he allegedly opened fire. In retaliatory fire, ASI Gurjinder Singh shot him in the leg. Karandeep was taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to police, Karandeep was in contact with foreign-based handlers of the Landa Harike gang, who tasked him with carrying out a target killing. They had allegedly provided him with weapons and ammunition through cut-out modules at different locations.
Subsequent investigation and interrogation led to the arrests of Gursewak, Arshdeep, Amritpal, and a juvenile accomplice.
From the encounter site, police seized a Glock pistol, 13 live cartridges, and two empty shells. A case under the Arms Act and relevant sections of the BNS has been registered at Division A police station.
