Sidhu Moosewala killing: Horse trader Satbir accused of supplying weapons held

Ludhiana, June 30

The Ludhiana police arrested Satbir, the horse trader of Talwandi Rai Dadu village in Ajnala district, Amritsar, on the charge of supplying illegal weapons for the killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala. A Toyota Fortuner (DL4CNE 8716), owned by Satbir, used for supplying weapons was also recovered by the police.

The police also recovered one country-made .315 bore pistol with two live cartridges from Satbir.

Pistol seized

The police seized a country-made .315 bore pistol and two cartridges from horse trader Satbir. Commissioner of Police Kaustubh Sharma told the media that Satbir was a member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Lawrence Bishnoi gangs.

Two other occupants of Fortuner — Manpreet Singh Mani of Madd village, Amritsar, and Mandeep Singh, alias Tufaan, of Puran da Kotha, Batala, — were also identified by the police who were also in touch with the shooters. CCTV footage of the Fortuner at a petrol pump in Bathinda was also recovered by the police from where these weapons suppliers had refuelled the vehicle.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Kaustubh Sharma told the media Satbir, Manpreet and Mandeep were active members of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Lawrence Bishnoi gangs.

CP Sharma said that on June 19, just 10 days before the murder of Moosewala, Ludhiana-based transporter Baldev Chaudhary, already in custody of the Ludhiana police, had delivered two illegal weapons to the occupants of Fortuner in Bathinda on the direction of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar.

The same day, Satbir had also been given weapons near Majitha, Amritsar, by two bike-borne youths who are yet to be identified.

“After reaching Bathinda, Satbir dropped the three, Manpreet, Mandeep and one unknown at Bathinda, and they were picked up by Manpreet Singh, alias Manu (one of the shooters identified by Delhi Police in the singer’s killing) in Scorpio. Our probe suggested that all three, including Satbir, supplied weapons to shooters,” added CP Sharma.

CIA Inspector Beant Juneja said two other members of the gang behind the singer’s killing were identified as Sandeep Kahlon, a panchayat secretary (also a horse trader) in Hargobindpur, and one Ranjit Singh of Fatehgarh Churian. After Satbir’s role behind weapon supply came and his Fortuner was captured at petrol station, Sandeep handed over a .315 pistol to Satbir and told him to stay alert from the supporters of Moosewala who was killed by our gang. Satbir also took shelter at the house of Ranjit.

Sandeep and Ranjit were also in touch with some persons for preparing fake passports of all four weapon suppliers by paying Rs 10 lakh to help them fleeing the country.