Ludhiana, August 25
Balbir Singh Bhootna, an alleged Babbar Khalsa terrorist, and his woman aide were arrested by the police after an encounter that lasted for more than three hours at the local railway station here this morning.

However, in an exchange of fire, Santosh, a worker at a tea stall, was killed while two Government Railway Police (GRP) constables, Karanpal Singh and Naranjan Singh, sustained bullet injuries.

Balbir allegedly opened fire on the police when the GRP personnel tried to check the bag of the alleged terrorist in a routine check. The injured personnel have been admitted to the CMC Hospital here. Karanpal is still to be operated upon while the condition of Naranjan is stated to be stable.

Mohnish Chawla, AIG, GRP, said, “Balbir is a Babbar Khalsa terrorist. However, the encounter occurred by chance and it was not pre-planned”. The shootout took place around 3.20 am on a passenger bridge between platform numbers four and five when the alleged terrorist, a resident of Bhootna village near Ferozepur, arrived along with his alleged paramour Sukhwinder Kaur of Muktsar.

Narrating the incident, Darshan Sharma, an eyewitness, said the accused and his paramour were going towards the exit gate when they were intercepted by the GRP personnel and were asked for checking.

The personnel, after frisking Balbir, told him to show his bag. He showed reluctance, but when the personnel persisted, he opened fire on Constable Naranjan Singh (35) and Head Constable Karanpal (55). Later, he rushed downstairs to hide himself in a train.

Panic gripped the railway station and passengers started running to protect themselves. Following this, the police raised the alarm and called for help to nab him.

Santosh mistook Balbir for a pickpocket and nabbed him. However, Balbir opened fire on Santosh, leaving him dead on the spot.

Unable to run further, Balbir hid himself under a train compartment. The police, including senior officers, reached the spot and the compartment under which Balbir was hiding was separated from the train.

SI Surinderjt Singh Cheema tried to nail Balbir by offering him tea laced with sedatives, but could not succeed. The cops then took his alleged paramour to the spot where Balbir was hiding, but her repeated requests to Balbir to surrender went in vain.

However, around 7 am, the “terrorist” showed intent to surrender and tried to come out of his hiding place. The police immediately nabbed him and took him to the CIA for further investigation. It also seized the weapon and the lone bullet left in the pistol from his possession.