2 criminals injured in encounter at Ramdas, another at Verka bypass in Amritsar

Pawan K Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 28

Two operatives of the US-based-gangster-turned-terrorist Jeevan Fauji were among three miscreants who were injured in separate encounters in the Amritsar rural and city police commissionerate area here on Monday. They suffered gunshot injuries on legs and were admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Lovepreet Singh (22) and Vishal Masih (23) of Jafarkot village in Ajnala were injured during an encounter with CIA staff of the Amritsar (Rural) police in the Ramdas area, while Shivam Singh, alias Babblu (24) of Uttarakhand, now residing at 88-foot-road on the Majitha road was injured in an encounter in the Verka bypass area.

Sharing operational details Maninder Singh, SSP, Amritsar (Rural), said the CIA staff received a tip-off about movements of Jeevan Fauji’s operatives in the Ramdas area for carrying out some criminal activity. He said immediately, CIA teams led by inspector Manmeetpal Singh was dispatched to the area. He said the police teams signalled two scooter-borne persons going on a secluded road to stop, but the accused took a U-turn and fled from the spot. The police teams chased accused in their vehicles.

During chase, when the police surrounded the accused, the duo hid behind trees. The accused fired at the police team in order to escape from the spot. For 15 minutes, both sides exchanged fire during which the two accused were injured. The police recovered two pistols and two mobile phones from possession of the accused, while the scooter on which they were travelling, was impounded for further probe. The two accused were admitted to a hospital for treatment.

The SSP said both the accused did not have any previous criminal record against them. He said, “The police are probing roles of the accused in the recent hand grenade blasts on police establishments for which Jeevan Fauji claimed responsibility. It is also being ascertained whether they are involved in making extortion calls to local residents.”

In another incident, a notorious criminal identified as Shivam Singh, alias Babblu (24), who was arrested by the Amritsar police commissionerate a week ago, was injured in an encounter in the Verka bypass area. He was taken to the spot for recovery of a weapon. Police Commissioner (CP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said after the recovery of a .32 bore pistol, the police team was busy in documentation when the accused requested officials to ease himself. The CP said when Babblu was taken at secluded place nearby, he tried to snatch senior constable’s service pistol which led to a scuffle. The CP said meanwhile, ASI Kewal Krishan sensed danger and fired at Babblu who suffered a bullet injury on his leg.

The CP said Babblu had four cases, including two of attempt to murder, registered against him, besides one of the Arms Act at a police station in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The CP said Babblu had planned two murders of rival gangsters. He wanted to gain supremacy in criminal gangs, the CP said.

Besides Babblu, earlier the police arrested Navdeep Singh, alias Nav (25), a resident of Gopal Nagar located on Majitha Road, Ujjwal Hans (24), a resident of the PWD Complex on Batala Road and Jasandeep Singh, alias Jassa (21), a resident of Dhoopsari village located on the Verka bypass on April 21. The police had seized five pistols from their possession at that time of their arrest.

Amritsar