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Babbar Khalsa militant flees from custody
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, October 18
A dreaded terrorist of Babbar Khalsa outfit identified as Karanvir Singh, alias Bablu, son of Satnam Singh of Daroli PS Adampur, who was arrested last midnight from Qila Barun (Chhotta Bajwara), fled from the CIA staff custody in the wee hours today.

Hoshiarpur SSP Rakesh Aggarwal told mediapersons this afternoon that during interrogation of Karanvir Singh the latter requested the investigating officer to allow him to go for defecation. He was allowed to go to the toilet with a duty constable where after breaking the ventilator Karanvir fled under the cover of darkness.

ASI Satwinder Singh, Night Munshi Head Constable Balbir Singh, Havildars Kulwaran Singh and Pawan Kumar and Punjab Home Guard Jawan Manjit Singh had been suspended for their negligence in duty. An FIR No. 120 under sections 224 of the IPC had been registered in City police station in this connection. An alert had been sounded in the region and special teams had been despatched to nab him, said Rakesh Aggarwal, added that an award of Rs 5 lakh had been announced to get arrested Karanvir Singh.

Acting on a tip-off, a police party last midnight raided the residence of Ranjit Kaur, wife of Nihang Jarnail Singh at village Qila Barun and arrested Karanvir Singh while he was sleeping. Police seized one AK 47 rifle along with 3 magazines and 90 cartridges, one hand grenade, one fire pin of grenade, one remote control (aerial and wireless set), 2 wires, one timer, 2 detonators, 1.5 Kg RDX and one Sri Sahib packed in a bag from him.

During his preliminary interrogation, Karanvir Singh revealed that he was working with Narain Singh Chaura and Pal Singh, both terrorists related to Babbar Khalsa outfit. He further revealed that he had kept more arms and ammunition at the residence of Amarjit Singh, alias Billu, son of Balwant Singh at village Rajpur Bhaian. He used to kept his arms and ammunition at Amarjit Singh’s residence after committing crimes.

On his information, police raided the house of Amarjit Singh and seized one AK 56 rifle along with 3 magazines and 186 cartridges, one bomb prepared with 3.9 Kg RDX packed in an iron box and one hand grenade.

An FIR No 152 under sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Act and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act had been registered in Sadar police station against Karanvir Singh in this connection.

He was the main accused involved in the murder of Sant Pardhan Singh, who was shot dead at the Gurdwara premises at village Baddon in the wee hours on May 16, 2010.

An FIR No 153 under sections 212 and 216 of the IPC had been registered in Sadar police station against Ranjit Kaur and her husband Nihang Singh for harbouring Karanvir Singh and both were arrested. Besides, the Mehtiana police had arrested Amarjit Singh under relevant sections of the Explosive Act and the Arms Act.