Wanted for Ferozepur-Tarn Taran murders, two arrested in Lucknow

Two hitmen wanted in connection with murders in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran were arrested in a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Police and Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) ​​of Punjab Police in Lucknow, officials said on Tuesday. Lucknow deputy commissioner of police (north) Ram Nayan Singh said the two suspects were identified as Bikramjit alias Vicky and Punjab Singh of Sandhra village, both from Sur Singh village in Tarn Taran district.

According to the police, the accused, who were operating under the instructions of gangsters based abroad, were arrested near a school in Indira Nagar in Sector 14 in Lucknow; here they resided in rented accommodation provided by foreign administrators. Custody of the two suspects has been given to the Punjab police, who will receive the passage from a court in Lucknow.

Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that Vicky alias Bikramjit has been accused of the murder of AAP worker Gurpreet Singh (alias Gopi Chohla) in Tarn Taran in March this year, while Punjab Singh is the prime accused in this triple murder . The incident took place on September 3 in Ferozepur district.

According to DGP Yadav, both of them have criminal history; While Vicky is facing 12 criminal cases related to murder, robbery and NDPS Act offences, Punjab Singh has four criminal cases related to murder, NDPS Act, Arms Act and rape. He added that police officers also seized a vehicle (PB60D0036) in which they were traveling.

He said the weapons used in both crimes are expected to be seized in the coming days. Further investigation is ongoing to determine their forward and reverse links, the official added.

Sharing the operational details, ADGP AGTF Promod Ban said that information based on human intelligence was received about the possible hiding places and vehicle details of the two hitmen in Lucknow. AGTF, under the supervision of AIG Sandeep Goel, shared the information with Lucknow police, following which joint teams of AGTF led by DSP Bikramjit Brar and Inspector Pushwinder Singh and Lucknow Police successfully arrested the duo.

On September 3, five people (all relatives) were traveling in a car when six assailants on two motorcycles surrounded them and opened fire near a gurdwara in the city of Ferozepur. Three people died, including a woman whose wedding was planned in a few days. Among the dead were Jaspreet Kaur, 22, her brother Akashdeep Singh, 21, and her cousin Dildeep Singh, 32. Police had alleged that Dildeep had a questionable past and was involved in two murder cases and action was taken against him under the Arms Act. It was stated that the target of the murderers was Dildeep, while the others were caught in the crossfire.

Four days later, the Maharashtra Police arrested seven persons in connection with the murders in Aurangabad following an operation based on intelligence from the Punjab Anti-Gangsters Task Force (AGTF).

In March this year, AAP worker Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi was shot dead near a railway crossing near Fatehabad town Tarn Taran.