Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Three alleged shooters linked to the Bambiha gang were arrested after a late-night encounter near Sector-43 bus stand in Chandigarh. Police recovered multiple pistols, including a Glock and Zigana weapon, while officials suspect the accused had arrived to execute a major crime in the city.
A late-night encounter broke out between the Chandigarh Police Operation Cell and three alleged shooters of the Bambiha gang behind the Sector-43 bus stand on Monday around 10:30 PM. A total of five rounds were fired during the exchange between police and the accused.
An ASI narrowly escaped death after a bullet struck his bulletproof jacket during the gunfight. Police retaliated and successfully overpowered all three suspects on the spot.
The arrested accused have been identified as Ajay Kumar, Joban, and Prabhjot, all residents of Amritsar. According to police sources, Joban and Prabhjot were allegedly involved in the murder case of Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nijjar. The trio will be produced before the district court on Tuesday.
Police said Operation Cell Inspector Satvinder Duhan had received intelligence inputs that three shooters linked to the Bambiha gang had arrived in Chandigarh to carry out a major crime. Acting on the tip-off, a police team reached the area behind Sector-43 bus stand where the suspects were seen moving on foot under suspicious circumstances.
When police asked them to stop and surrender, the accused allegedly opened fire immediately. Police personnel returned fire and took positions during the encounter. The accused fired three rounds, while police fired two rounds in response.
During the exchange, one bullet hit the bulletproof jacket of an ASI, saving his life. After the encounter, police arrested all three accused and recovered one Zigana pistol, one Glock pistol, and one .32 bore pistol from their possession.
Investigators are now probing the motive behind the suspects’ arrival in Chandigarh and the possible target of the planned crime.
Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nijjar, a close aide of gangster Sukha Kahlwan and a key witness in a murder case, was shot dead on April 30, 2026, on the National Highway at Dhilwan in Kapurthala. Police sources stated that the main shooter in the case, Gaurav alias Gola, had already been arrested, while the names of Prabhjot and Joban have now surfaced during the investigation.
Soon after the incident, senior police officials, including DSP Operation Cell Vikas Sheokand, DSP South Dheeraj Kumar, Sector-36 SHO Jai Prakash, and Sector-43 police post in-charge SI Asha Devi, reached the spot. The Chandigarh Police forensic team arrived immediately, while the CFSL team reportedly reached around 12:38 AM, causing police to remain at the scene till late night.
