In a significant operation, the Ropar district police in Punjab claimed on Sunday to have foiled a sinister plot involving a targeted killing and robbery. The police arrested five individuals following an armed encounter in Rolumajra village, which falls under the Chamkaur Sahib police station jurisdiction.
Police Act on Intel, Surround Suspects
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Singh Khurana stated that the force acted on specific intelligence. The input suggested that a group of armed men had arrived at the residence of one Ranjit Singh in Rolumajra with plans to commit robbery and murder. Acting swiftly, the police formed multiple teams and dispatched them to the location.
The teams were led by key officers including SP (Detective) Gurdeep Singh Gossal, DSP (NDPS) Gabbar Singh, DSP (Investigation) Jatinder Chauhan, CIA in-charge Rahul Sharma, and special branch in-charge Gurvinder Singh.
Encounter Erupts, One Accused Injured
Upon surrounding the spot, the police personnel ordered the suspects to surrender. However, the suspects responded by opening fire on the police team. The police retaliated in self-defence. In the ensuing exchange of fire, one of the accused, identified as Karnveer Singh alias Kanwa, sustained a bullet injury on his leg.
He was immediately shifted to a civil hospital for treatment, where his condition is reported to be stable. A case was initially registered, and as the investigation progressed, serious charges of attempted murder were added to the FIR.
Pro-Khalistan Link and UAPA Invoked
Further investigations by the police uncovered a deeper, more alarming conspiracy. The plot was allegedly linked to a planned targeted killing with connections to pro-Khalistan elements. Following this revelation, the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were also invoked against the accused.
The police revealed that the intended target was an Italy-based Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who had recently returned to his native village. This individual was associated with the management committee of Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib and was known to oppose certain extremist activities, which allegedly made him a target.
The conspiracy to eliminate him was reportedly hatched by individuals based abroad, who coordinated the plan through their contacts in Greece and Dubai.
Weapons Seized and Accused Identified
During the operation, the police successfully seized a cache of illegal firearms. The recovered weapons included three pistols and one country-made firearm.
All the arrested accused have been identified. The injured suspect, Karnveer Singh alias Kanwa, is a known history-sheeter and was previously wanted in connection with two murder cases and several firing incidents. The other four arrested individuals are Akash Rana, Vansh Shori, Gurkamal Singh alias Kamal, and Karandeep Singh alias Kanu.
Probe Aims to Unravel International Network
SSP Gulneet Singh Khurana emphasized that a detailed investigation is currently underway. The focus of the probe is multi-pronged:
- To identify the suspects operating from foreign soil.
- To trace the entire supply chain of the illegal weapons used.
- To expose the complete network involved in this conspiracy.
The intended target, Ranjit Singh, has since returned safely to Italy. This operation highlights the continued vigilance of Punjab Police against organized crime and terror-related activities in the state.
