Punjab Newsline | Barnala
Two alleged gangsters were arrested following a police encounter in Barnala's Mahal Kalan on Tuesday morning, during which illegal firearms were recovered from their possession.
According to police, the operation took place around 5:30 a.m. when a team from Mahal Kalan Police Station, led by Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Kulwinder Singh, along with the Counter Intelligence team, had set up a checkpoint near the old toll plaza on the Mahal Kalan road based on specific intelligence inputs.
During the operation, police signalled a Hyundai Verna car to stop. However, the driver allegedly attempted to flee after spotting the police. As officers blocked the road with barricades, the driver tried to steer the vehicle around them but lost control, causing the car to veer into nearby fields.
Police alleged that one of the occupants opened fire on the police team, prompting officers to retaliate. Both suspects were subsequently overpowered and taken into custody.
The arrested men have been identified as Ashveer Singh alias Arshi, a resident of Bakhtgarh village in Barnala district, and Gursharan Singh, a resident of Raunta village in Moga district's Nihal Singh Wala area.
A search of the suspects and the vehicle led to the recovery of one .32-bore pistol and one .25-bore pistol.
Police said Ashveer Singh alias Arshi had already been declared a proclaimed offender in several criminal cases registered in Barnala district and is considered a notorious gangster in the region. Further investigation is underway.
