A day after the dramatic encounter in Ludhiana that led to the neutralization of a notorious criminal with a 19-year-long criminal history – Sukhdev Singh alias Vicky, the Punjab Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into the backward and forward linkages of the deceased.
Announcing the formation the SIT during a media briefing on Monday, the state’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill on Thursday said that Ludhiana Rural Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jaskiranjit Singh Teja will led the team which also includes Additional DCP Zone 4 Tushar Gupta, Additional DCP (D) Rupinder Kaur Sran, and SHO Division No 7 Sukhdev Singh.
Accompanied by Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal, IGP Gill unfolded Vicky’s criminal trajectory. Originating from a petty theft in 2004, Vicky escalated to more grievous offenses, accumulating warrants in 24 criminal cases, predominantly involving attempted murder, robbery, theft, snatching, extortion, and NDPS violations.
Notably, the encounter occurred near Kohara Machiwara road in Panjeta village in Ludhiana on Wednesday evening, resulting in Vicky's neutralization. Ludhiana Commissionerate Police had already arrested three of his associates. The crossfire left ASI Daljit Singh injured, while in-charge CIA-2 Ludhiana Inspector Beant Singh Juneja narrowly escaped harm, thanks to his bullet-proof jacket.
FIR, dated December 13, 2023, has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Arms Act at Police Station Koom Kalan in Ludhiana, based on the statement of Inspector Beant Juneja. The police recovered a .32 bore Pistol, a magazine, one live cartridge, and three empty cartridges from Vicky's possession, along with impounding his Black Splendour Motorcycle.
Gill that the Punjab Police, particularly the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) formed in April 2022, has made substantial progress in eradicating criminal elements. Since its inception, the AGTF and field units have arrested 906 gangsters or criminals, neutralized nine, and recovered 921 weapons and 197 vehicles associated with criminal activities.
In addition to the Ludhiana encounter, details emerged about Vicky's recent criminal activities. On December 8, 2023, he forcibly entered a medical store, robbing Rs 1.25 lakh, two mobile phones, and a laptop at gunpoint, inflicting a bullet injury on the owner. On December 10, 2023, Vicky, along with three accomplices, went on a brazen crime spree involving 5 incidents in less than 2 hours, including a bike snatching, four armed robberies, and a shooting incident.
