n a major breakthrough, Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in a joint operation with Central Agencies and J&K Police has arrested a gangster identified as Charanjit Singh alias Raju Shooter— who escaped from the Civil Hospital Tarn Taran, and his 10 aides during a 48-hours long operation carried out in different parts of Punjab and J&K, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
Police teams have also recovered four weapons including one double barrel rifle, which got stolen from Tarn Taran-based Meet Gun House on February 28, 2024, and three pistols along with 26 live cartridges from their possession.
Other 10 persons arrested have been identified as Husanpreet Singh alias Husan of village Pidhi in Tarn Taran; Gulab Singh alias Gulab of village Bachde in Tarn Taran; Amritpal Singh alias Chidi of Mohalla Jaswant Singh in Tarn Taran; Baljinder Singh alias Lokka of village Lokka; Bobby of Ajnala; Lovpreet Singh alias Love, Amritpal Singh alias Sandeep Singh and Sajan alias Kalu, trio residents of village Thathian Mahantan in Tarn Taran; Sukhchain Singh alias Mogali and Harmesh Singh alias Chichu, both residents of village Vadayia in Sri Muktsar Sahib.
As per the information, Gangster Raju Shooter is a kingpin of an organised criminal gang active in the Majha region mainly in districts including Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Amritsar Rural. All the arrested accused were involved in criminal activities including attempt to murder, robbery, drug smuggling, etc.
In September 2023, the gang was involved in a failed attempt to loot a bank at Village Dhotian, Tarn Taran in which one police officer was critically wounded in firing by the accused persons. On April 16, 2024, associates of Raju shooter had orchestrated his escape from Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran where he was undergoing treatment.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that following reliable inputs, AGTF Punjab headed by ADGP Promod Ban mobilised 12 police teams under the supervision of AIG Sandeep Goel to track Gangster Raju Shooter and his gang-members.DSP Rajan Parminder, DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar, DSP Harminder Singh and DSP Jaspal Singh participated and led this operation.
“Over 48-hours long operation, which involved meticulous intelligence gathering, technical analysis, and swift action led to the apprehension of Gangster Raju Shooter and his 10 aides from different parts of Punjab and J&K,” said the DGP, while expressing gratitude to the J&K Police and Central Agencies for their enormous support to accomplish this operation.
Sharing more details, AIG Sandeep Goel said that a preliminary investigation has revealed that six associates of Raju Shooter facilitated his escape from the Hospital.
Out of six, Police have arrested three facilitators including Gulab Singh, Husanpreet Singh and Amritpal Singh alias Chidhi, he said, while adding that a manhunt is on to arrest another three facilitators.