Robber arrested after hot chase, encounter by cops

A robber escaping after snatching cash from a Harike resident was caught after a hot chase and encounter by the Tarn Taran police from the Harike-Patti road here on Thursday.

Angrej Singh of Dinewal village suffered a bullet injury on his leg while his accomplice Gurbhej Singh managed to flee from the scene.

According to the police, Angrej shot at a Home Guards jawan, Gursewak Singh, when he was trying to catch him. He had a narrow escape in the incident. The cop then fired at him in self-defence leading to injury on his leg. He was admitted to the local government hospital for treatment under tight security arrangements.

Tarn Taran SSP Abhimanyu Rana said Angrej Singh has several criminal cases of robbery and under the Arms Act registered against him. He recently came out from jail on bail and started his nefarious activities again.

Sharing details, Rana said Angrej Singh along with his accomplice Gurbhej Singh looted a customer from a petrol pump at Jeoneke village. They looted Rs 10,000 cash from him at gunpoint though their bid to loot his car failed as he opposed their attempt.

He fled the scene in a car. On getting information of the incident, the Harike police started chasing the car the driver of which took it towards the Patti side. The Harike police alerted Patti police personnel, who also came from the opposite side to catch them. He said on seeing the police parties from both sides, they turned the wheels towards a kutcha road leading to Pear gardens.

He said the police immediately intercepted them. They came out of the car and started firing at the police.

“Our Home Guard jawan Gursewak Singh caught Angrej, who fired at him with his pistol. He had a narrow escape and the police team started firing to stop him. A bullet hit Angrej’s leg and he fell down and was caught by the police,” said Rana, while adding that a search was being carried out to find Gurbhej in the dense Pear garden, but he managed to dodge the police and slipped away from the spot.

SP (D) Ajay Raj said the police have registered two separate FIRs against Angrej and Gurbhej Singh. He said raids were on to arrest Gurbhej.