Jalandhar police arrest 2 gangsters linked to Kaushal-Bambiha gang after brief encounter

The Jalandhar Police Commissionerate have arrested two notorious gangsters linked to the Kaushal-Bambiha gang following a dramatic encounter on the outskirts of Jalandhar Cantonment. The operation, which involved a high-stakes foot chase and exchange of fire, resulted in the seizure of two pistols and five live cartridges, said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.

Both gangsters, identified as Rajeshwar Kumar and Deepak Vaid, were arrested by the police on Tuesday after their name cropped up during follow-up investigations in the Arms Act case registered at the Bhargo Camp police station on October 17.

As per information, police teams had arrested four members of this Kaushal-Bambiha module and seized four weapons from their possession. With the arrest of these two gangsters, the total arrests in this case have reached six.

“Police officers have displayed remarkable endurance by chasing and arresting gangsters Rajeshwar Kumar and Deepak Vaid on foot for at least 1.5 km,” said the DGP.

DGP Yadav said both accused were involved in multiple heinous crimes and also conspiring to commit major crimes in several districts. They were also providing logistical assistance to other gang members and supplying weapons to different gangs in Punjab and Haryana, he said.

The DGP said further investigation was on to establish backward and forward linkages in the case.

Jalandhar CP Swapan Sharma said following disclosures of the accused, police teams of the Jalandhar Commissionerate were taking both of them to the secluded place at the outskirts of the Jalandhar Cantonment, where they had claimed to have concealed arms and ammunition.

Upon reaching the location, the accused managed to run from the spot by opening fire at the police party using the pistol retrieved from the spot, he said, while adding that acting promptly, officials opened retaliatory fire to stop them and managed to apprehend them after giving them a 1.5-km foot chase. During the operation, one of the accused sustained a bullet injury on his right leg, while the other sustained an injury during manhandling with the police teams.

He said both accused had a criminal history with several criminal cases pertaining to Arms Act, NDPS Act, attempt to murder, etc., registered against them. With the seizure of two more pistols from the spot, a total of six weapons had been confiscated from the module so far, he said, while adding that more arrests and seizures were expected in the coming days.