In a massive crackdown against gangster-terrorist nexus, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted raids at suspected hideouts of persons linked with Pakistan-based gangsters-turned-terrorists — Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Harwinder Singh alias Rinda.
The simultaneous raids were conducted from 6 am to 11 am on the directions of the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, wherein all the residential and other premises linked with associates of both the criminals, were thoroughly searched in all the 28 police districts in the State.
Special DGP, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla on Sunday said that all the Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police were directed to depute strong police parties to make this operation successful, which was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and abroad.
Police teams were asked to round up suspicious persons during the operation, he said, adding that all the major places linked with Landa and Rinda were raided during this operation by 364 parties of Punjab Police involving about 2000 police personnel.
“Today’s searches were planned after the questioning of several persons arrested during recently busted modules backed by Lakhbir Landa and Harwinder Rinda,” said Special DGP Shukla.
He said that several persons have also been detained during the operation for further verification and incriminating material has been seized from their possession. The material and data collected during the search operation is being examined further, he added.
Meanwhile, Tarn Taran Police have achieved a major success during this operation with the arrest of two associates of Harwinder Rinda — identified as Arshdeep Singh and his brother Wattandeep Singh, both residents of Kulla village.
The Police teams have also recovered two pistols including .30 bore Star Pistol and .45 bore along with 285 live cartridges of different bores, besides, recovering 100 grams of opium and 250 kgs lahan (raw material used to make liquor) from their possession.
Tarn Taran SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said that an FIR has been registered against them and both the brothers are being interrogated.