Punjab Police arrests escapee shooter, 10 aides in 48-hour operation

Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has arrested a gangster, Charanjit Singh, alias Raju Shooter, who escaped from a hospital in Tarn Taran, and his 10 aides during a 48-hour-long operation.

The operation was carried out in different parts of Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Friday. Gangster Raju Shooter is a kingpin of an organised criminal gang active in the Majha region, mainly in districts including Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Amritsar Rural.

Police teams have also recovered four weapons, including one double barrel rifle, which was stolen from Tarn Taran-based Meet Gun House on February 28, and three pistols along with 26 live cartridges from their possession.

The arrested accused have been identified as -- Husanpreet Singh alias Husan, Gulab Singh, Amritpal Singh, Baljinder Singh, Lovpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh alias Sandeep Singh, and Sajan alias Kalu all from Tarn Taran, and Sukhchain Singh alias Mogali and Harmesh Singh alias Chichu from Sri Muktsar Sahib.

All the arrested accused were involved in criminal activities including attempts to murder, robbery and drug smuggling.

In September last year, the gang was involved in a failed attempt to loot a bank at Dhotian village in Tarn Taran in which one police officer was critically wounded in firing by the accused.

On April 16, 2024, associates of Raju Shooter had planned his escape from Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran where he was undergoing treatment.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said following reliable inputs, the AGTF headed by ADGP Promod Ban mobilised 12 police teams under the supervision of AIG Sandeep Goel to track gangster Raju Shooter and his gang members.

DSP Rajan Parminder, DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar, DSP Harminder Singh and DSP Jaspal Singh participated and led this operation.

"Over 48-hours long operation, which involved meticulous intelligence gathering, technical analysis and swift action led to the arrest of Gangster Raju Shooter and his 10 aides from different parts of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir," the DGP said.

AIG Goel said a preliminary investigation has revealed that six associates of Raju Shooter facilitated his escape from the hospital.

Of the six associates, police have arrested three of them - Gulab Singh, Husanpreet Singh and Amritpal Singh alias Chidhi. AIG Goel said a manhunt was on to arrest the remaining three facilitators.