Punjab, January 27:
The Punjab Police’s Amritsar Counter Intelligence unit achieved a significant breakthrough by arresting six members of the Kaushal Chaudhary gang, preventing a planned targeted killing in Punjab. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed the arrests on Monday.
The apprehended individuals include Puneet Lakhanpal and Narinder Kumar, who had evaded capture for nearly three years. They were directly linked to the murders of Kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal Ambian in 2022 and Sukhmeet Singh, alias Deputy, in 2021.
DGP Yadav revealed that the accused were also involved in a shooting incident at the Highway King Hotel in Rajasthan and had demanded extortion money amounting to ₹5 crore in September 2022. During the operation, six sophisticated firearms and 40 rounds of ammunition were seized from their possession. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in Amritsar regarding the case.
Key Details of the Murders
Sandeep Singh Nangal Ambian, a prominent Kabaddi player, was fatally shot during an international Kabaddi match in Mallian Khurd village, Jalandhar, on March 14, 2022. The killing was linked to rivalries among Kabaddi associations over international and national leagues. Initially, the Bambiha gang claimed responsibility for the attack. Following the incident, the police arrested several sharpshooters from Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.
Additionally, the police apprehended well-known Kabaddi promoter Surjan Singh Chatha, who was identified as a key suspect during the investigation. Chatha, a British national, was later named in the FIR under murder charges after his involvement surfaced during the probe.
In the case of Sukhmeet Singh, a former Jalandhar rural Congress president and councillor, the Bambiha gang also claimed responsibility for his murder. Police registered cases against four suspects, including Armenia-based gangster Gaurav Patial, shooter Vijay Maley, Puneet from Jalandhar, and an unidentified accomplice. Charges under the Arms Act and murder have been filed against them.
The successful operation highlights the Punjab Police’s ongoing efforts to combat organized crime and bring perpetrators to justice.
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