Punjab Police on Tuesday claimed to have averted possible target killing planned by cross-border operatives with the arrest of one member linked to a Pak-based terror module.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested accused has been identified as Lovepreet Singh alias Picho of Udho Nangal village in Amritsar. Police teams have also recovered one .30-bore automatic Chinese pistol along with a magazine and four live cartridges from his possession.
DGP Yadav said that acting swiftly on the intelligence and human-intelligence inputs, Police teams from Jalandhar Counter Intelligence laid a special naka (checkpoint) in the area of Rama Mandi and arrested the accused person after recovering the sophisticated automatic pistol from his possession.
He said that the probe revealed that the arrested accused was being handled by Pakistan-based operatives, who tasked him to carry out target killing in the Jammu and Kashmir region to create fear and unrest in the society.
Sharing more details, Jalandhar Counter Intelligence SSP Navjot Singh Mahal said that the accused has received money in his bank account via Dubai and procured the pistol along with ammunition from the area of Samba in Jammu and Kashmir. Further investigations are going on, he added.
A case FIR, dated April 22, 2024, has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act and section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station State Special Operations Cell, (SSOC) Amritsar.
BJP stalwart Sampla’s nephew joins AAP
PNS/Chandigarh
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received a substantial boost in Jalandhar as Robin Sampla, the nephew of BJP stalwart and former National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Vijay Sampla, made a momentous decision on Tuesday. Robin, who held the position of vice president in the BJP's Scheduled Caste wing, bid farewell to the saffron party and officially joined the AAP, marking a noteworthy transition in the political landscape of Punjab.
The induction ceremony, graced by the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and MLA Raman Arora, saw Robin Sampla being warmly welcomed into the AAP fold. Known for his influential presence among the youth of Jalandhar, Robin’s departure from the BJP represented a significant setback for the party, particularly in Jalandhar region, where his departure may lead to a tangible loss in BJP’s vote share.
Robin Sampla, addressing the gathering, emphasized the AAP's commitment to the common people, the poor, and the Dalits, reaffirming his belief in the party's inclusive ideology. Expressing his disillusionment with the BJP, Robin highlighted his decision to join the AAP as a volunteer driven by the party's principles and its dedication to serving every section of Punjab without discrimination. His entry into the AAP is expected to bolster the party's prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Jalandhar.
Robin Sampla's association with the BJP's Scheduled Caste wing and his familial ties to Vijay Sampla, a BJP stalwart and former Union Minister, added further weight to his decision to switch sides.
Vijay Sampla, who was reportedly disenchanted with the BJP’s decision-making process, had previously been denied a ticket for the Lok Sabha elections in Hoshiarpur. Robin's decision to join the AAP comes at a time when the political landscape of Punjab is witnessing dynamic shifts, with parties actively seeking to consolidate their support base ahead of the elections.
Notably, Robin Sampla's involvement in advocating for the rights of SC families affected by house demolitions in Jalandhar last year had garnered attention both locally and nationally. His efforts to bring justice to the marginalized communities underscored his commitment to social justice and equality, values that resonate with the AAP's core principles.
