Gangster Dasuwal’s operative held after encounter near Patti

An operative of infamous gangster Prabh Dasuwal was nabbed after he was injured in a police encounter near Patti town here on Friday night. The police recovered a country-made pistol, five empty cartridges and the motorcycle the operative was riding in the area. The operative of the gangster has been identified as Harinder Singh, a resident of Thakarpura village near Patti, stated Lovekesh, DSP, Patti.

DSP Lovekesh said here on Saturday that on a tip-off, a Patti police team, led by SHO Inspector Harpreet Singh, installed a naka near the railway bridge crossing on Friday night. On seeing him coming from the Sarali Manda village side, the police party signalled him to stop. But instead of stopping, he opened fire on the police party. The DSP said he made four to five fires at the police party.

The DSP said Harinder Singh was injured when the police fired in self-defence. He said the accused, being an operative of Prabh Dasuwal, was targeting those who refused to pay him extortion.

He said during the last few weeks, he had fired at a Patti town-based advocate from whom Prabh Dasuwal had demanded an extortion of Rs 1 crore; fired at a petrol pump in Khemkaran town; and at the car of the owner of a school at Dasuwal village.

Cases in connection with the incidents have been registered and in the incident of last night, the Patti police have registered a new case under Section 109 of the BNS and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.

The DSP said Harinder Singh was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Patti, under police security.

Amritsar