In a significant development, the Amritsar police have announced a major breakthrough with the arrest of an individual accused in several recent shooting incidents. The arrest followed a brief but intense encounter in the city's Kot Khalsa area.
Encounter and Arrest in Kot Khalsa
According to Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs. A police team was dispatched towards the Borhi Sahib locality when they spotted the accused, identified as Chandan Sharma. Upon seeing the police, Sharma attempted to flee the scene.
In a desperate bid to escape, Chandan Sharma opened fire at the police party. The officers responded by firing warning shots, but the accused continued his aggression, firing again. This forced the police to retaliate in self-defence, during which Sharma was hit in the leg. He was subsequently apprehended and immediately shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.
Recovery of Banned Weapon and Previous Crimes
From Sharma's possession, the police recovered a 9mm Turkish-made Zigana pistol. This type of firearm is banned in India, adding a serious dimension to the case. The arrest is directly connected to two alarming firing incidents that occurred earlier in the month.
The first incident took place on December 13 during a jagrata (night-long prayer vigil) in New Adarsh Nagar. Here, Chandan Sharma allegedly shot a man named Birkam Sharma, inflicting serious injuries. While absconding after this attack, he struck again the very next day, December 14. In this subsequent event, he opened fire, injuring two individuals identified as Billu and Sonia.
Police Claim Major Breakthrough
The Amritsar police force has termed this arrest a crucial success in curbing violent crime in the city. The apprehension of Chandan Sharma is expected to help investigators piece together the motives behind the shootings and possibly uncover any wider networks involved in supplying illegal arms. The use of a banned foreign-made pistol has raised concerns about the proliferation of such weapons. Police authorities have reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order and taking strong action against those involved in gun violence.
