Robbers gang kingpin held in Lalru encounter

The police arrested the kingpin of a gang of highway robbers and snatchers after an encounter near Dappar in Lalru today. Cops seized a pistol and five live rounds from him.

The suspect, identified as Satpreet Singh, alias Satti, of Dandrala village in Mohali has been booked at the Lalru police station.

“Acting on human and technical inputs, Satti’s movement was traced near Lehli village this morning. He, along with an accomplice, was coming on a motorcycle from the Ambala side towards Lalru. They were chased on the national highway after which they took a link road. When cornered, they opened fire on the police team. They fired three rounds which hit the police vehicle. As the police team retaliated, Satti sustained a bullet injury on his right leg while his accomplice managed to flee,” said Dera Bassi DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar.

He was taken to the GMCH-32 in Chandigarh for treatment. The police said his accomplice was being tracked and would be arrested soon. The pistol recovered from the spot appears to be country-made. More details would be known once cops interrogate the suspect thoroughly.

Satti’s gang targeted motorists on the Ambala-Dera Bassi national highway and was involved in multiple robberies and snatching incidents in Punjab and Haryana.

The suspect reportedly has a criminal background. He, along with his three associates, was allegedly involved in the late night robberies that took place on the highway on November 3 and 10 in which cash, mobile and gold ornaments were snatched at gunpoint. The busy Dera Bassi-Ambala highway is infested with criminals who commit robberies at gunpoint on secluded stretches frequently.

SP (Rural) Manpreet Singh said, “Complaints of snatchings and gunpoint robberies were being received from this area frequently and the police are trying to nab the robbers.”

Suspect a history-sheeter

• Satpreet Singh Satti is a hardened criminal and involved in henious crimes, the police said.
• Satti, 34, leads a gang of six-seven members, who used to rob commuters of valuables at gunpoint.
• He had spent time in jail in an attempt to murder case in Punjab in 2012-2013. He was also admitted to a de-addiction centre in the past, the police said.
• Two cases of robbery at gunpoint were registered in the Dera Bassi area this month only, and the police believe Satti was involved in them.