DRAMATIC SHOOTOUT BETWEEN POLICE AND CRIMINAL IN SHAHKOT; ACCUSED INJURED

Jalandhar News: In a dramatic encounter that unfolded this afternoon, Jalandhar Rural Police engaged in a fierce gunfight with a wanted criminal in Shahkot area. The accused, who opened fire at the police team in an attempt to escape, was injured in retaliatory fire and successfully apprehended after the shootout.

The arrested accused has been identified as Sukhraj Singh alias Sukhpreet Singh Sukha, a resident of Shahkot, who was wanted in multiple criminal cases including an attempt to murder.

Giving details of the operation, Senior Superintendent of Police Jalandhar Rural Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh said that following a tip-off about the movement of the accused, a special police team from Shahkot police station led by DSP Onkar Singh Brar conducted the operation. When the police team moved to arrest him, the accused opened fire in an attempt to escape. The police team retaliated in self-defense, resulting in the accused sustaining injuries before being overpowered and arrested.

SSP Khakh disclosed that the accused was involved in more than seven criminal cases across Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts. His most recent crime involved a brazen shooting at Goyal Petrol Pump in village Punia on January 14, where along with his accomplices, he had attacked a Canadian resident and fired multiple shots at his vehicle.

“The accused has a long criminal record including violations of Arms Act and NDPS Act. On January 14, he and his accomplices Dilbagh Singh alias Baga, Kulwant Singh alias Kanti, and Varinderpal Singh had attacked one Kulwinder Singh Pooni with weapons and fired shots at his Fortuner vehicle,” added SSP Khakh.

Kulwant Singh Kanti arrested earlier by the police in the past month. The police team are conducting raids to apprehend remaining two accused.

The injured accused has been admitted to the hospital under heavy police force.

A fresh attempt to murder case has been registered against him at police station Lohian for today’s firing incident on the police party.

“He will be produced in court once declared fit by doctors. Police Teams are conducting raids to arrest his accomplices from the January 14 case,” said SSP Khakh, adding that Jalandhar Rural Police is committed to maintaining law and order and will continue its crackdown on criminal elements.