Gangster Teja, 2 aides shot in encounter; two cops injured
Aman Sood
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 22
Three gangsters have been shot lifeless in an encounter with the police close to the Bassi Pathana bus stand in Fatehgarh Sahib district on Wednesday. One of many slain gangsters has been recognized as Teja Mehandpuria whereas the id of his two accomplices was but to be established.
Two police personnel, Sub-Inspector Gurpreet Singh and constable Sukhraj, have been injured within the gunfight and have been admitted to a hospital, an official mentioned.
A group of the Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Process Pressure (AGTF) is learnt to have been trailing Teja and his associates, who have been travelling in a Thar jeep, following leads that he was lively within the space. Sources mentioned the operation was code-named “Quick-track” after ‘Teja’ (quick) and the concept was to arrest him.
Dealing with trial in additional than 35 instances, together with of homicide and theft, Teja and his accomplices have been allegedly concerned within the January 8 killing of constable Kuldeep Singh Bajwa in Phillaur. The policeman was a part of a group chasing gangsters who had robbed a automotive at gunpoint in Kangjagir village.
AGTF chief Pramod Ban, AIG Sandeep Goel and DSP Bikramjit Brar led the operation. “We have been following the gangsters who have been concerned within the supply of weapons and have been additionally wished within the Phillaur case,” mentioned Ban.
Goel mentioned the gangsters have been closely armed and when informed to give up, they began firing indiscriminately on the police and passersby. “It was a slender escape for our group members too,” he mentioned.
The police had cordoned off the realm and made bulletins for close by individuals to remain indoors. After the encounter, the Thar was left deserted on a roadside with over a dozen bullet marks on it.
Belonging to Mehandpur village at Balachaur in Nawanshahr district, Teja was lodged in Bathinda jail and was launched on bail on November 16 final 12 months. He jumped bail and received reunited along with his gang members. They allegedly deliberate to focus on spiritual and political leaders and rival gangsters, mentioned an official.
Concerned in coaching criminals and recruiting kids into the gang, Teja allegedly dedicated his first homicide when he was a minor, an official mentioned, including his mother and father had been residing individually. His brother has been present process a 10-year imprisonment in Ferozepur jail in a drug peddling case.
“Two police officers injured and three gangsters neutralised in defence by AGTF in encounter in Bassi Pathana,” Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav tweeted.
The way it all unfolded
4 pm: AGTF will get a tip-off
4.15 pm: Workforce zeroes in on SUV
4.30 pm: Tries to intercept Teja
4.45 PM: Traced to Bassi Pathana
5 pm: Gangsters’ SUV intercepted, trio opens fireplace
5.05 pm: Cops retaliate, kill trio Encounter lasts seven minutes