In a dramatic turn of events in Jalandhar, Punjab, an armed encounter broke out between police and drug smugglers, resulting in the death of one accused and the arrest of two others. According to the police, the incident occurred during a raid based on a tip-off regarding drug smuggling operations in the Lohian Khas area.
The deceased has been identified as Gurpreet Gopi, while his accomplices, Lovepreet Labha and Rohit, were taken into custody. SSP Harvinder Singh Virk informed that the police had received intelligence about the three individuals, who were allegedly involved in heroin supply and robbery cases. Acting on the information, teams from CIA Jalandhar were dispatched to apprehend the suspects.
The police tried to arrest the trio on Sunday afternoon. During the operation, Gurpreet Gopi opened fire on the officers using a .30 bore pistol. In an act of self-defense, Constable Mandeep retaliated, injuring Gopi in the abdomen. The police then apprehended his two accomplices and rushed the injured Gopi to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
From the spot, the police recovered 100 grams of heroin, a pistol, three live cartridges, empty shells, and a motorcycle used by the accused.
The police have confirmed that the accused had a criminal background. Gurpreet Gopi had six cases registered against him, while Lovepreet and Rohit each have two prior cases. Investigations are underway to trace the network involved, including the source of the heroin and the gangs connected to them.
The authorities have intensified efforts to dismantle the entire drug supply chain and are probing the suspects’ past activities in the region.
