M A I N   N E W S

Three AIG attackers land in police net
Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 26
A team of Punjab Police arrested Maninder Pal Singh, alias Sunny Johar, and Rishi Banda, key accused in the Ludhiana hotel brawl case, near Zirakpur in Mohali this afternoon. The accused were trying to enter Punjab from Haryana when they were arrested. Another accused, Emman, alias Aman, was arrested by the Ludhiana police earlier in the day.

A team from the Mohali police organised a joint operation with the Patiala police to arrest the two, who along with others had allegedly assaulted a senior police officer - Assistant Inspector General (Counter-Intelligence), Ludhiana, SS Mand - and his NRI friend at a Ludhiana hotel on Christmas Eve.

“On being intercepted, the accused tried to flee after abandoning their vehicle, but were overpowered. A .32 bore revolver and six cartridges, allegedly snatched from the complainant, were recovered from Maninder Pal Singh,” an official statement said.

Sources in the police department said an alert was sounded in the state soon after the Ludhiana police registered a case against Sunny and his accomplices on Tuesday.

While the two left Punjab after committing the crime, the police kept looking for them in the state. Special checkpoints were set up across the state to nab the accused, sources said.

Sunny had switched off his mobile phone and was using a SIM card from the Uttar Pradesh telecom circle.

“After we traced Sunny’s mobile number, we located their presence near Panipat. They were headed towards Ambala. Later, the mobile tower location suggested their presence near Dera Bassi-Zirakpur and a police team from the two districts intercepted and arrested the two,” said a senior police officer.

A Vento car used by the accused was impounded by the police. Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) HS Dhillon was not available for comment.

Police sources said Mand’s NRI friend Paramjit Singh was allegedly attacked by Sunny and his accomplices, including bouncers.

Mobile gave them away

Sunny, Rishi left Punjab after committing the crime

Sunny had switched off his mobile phone and was using a SIM card from the UP telecom circle

First traced near Panipat through their mobile tower location

Found heading towards Ambala, arrested near Dera Bassi-Zirakpur