Kolkata Police Arrests Three Bambiha Gang Members in Howrah Hotel Raid
The Kolkata Police Special Task Force, working with the Golabari Police under Howrah City Police, made a significant arrest on Tuesday. They captured three members of Punjab's notorious Bambiha gang from a hotel near Howrah station. This operation comes less than a month after the trio allegedly murdered a prominent kabaddi player and promoter in Mohali.
Details of the Arrest and Murder Case
Police identified the arrested individuals as Karan Pathak (21), Tarandeep Singh (25), and Akashdeep Singh (21), all hailing from Punjab. According to authorities, two of them served as sharpshooters while the third acted as an informer. Their alleged victim was Kanwar Digvijay Singh, also known as Rana Balachauria, who was gunned down on December 15 during an ongoing kabaddi tournament.
STF sources confirmed that all three accused played direct roles in the player's murder. "They murdered Balachauria and then kept moving between hideouts across India," revealed a source from Lalbazar. "They arrived in Kolkata after we received an alert from Punjab Police. However, they managed to slip away to Gangtok initially. We continued our pursuit and discovered they had returned to the city. Our team tracked them to Howrah station where Golabari police officers apprehended them."
Court Proceedings and Police Statements
A senior officer from Howrah City Police stated that the trio would be presented in court promptly. "Punjab Police has been informed about the arrest and will take them on transit remand," the officer added. Police investigations indicate the gang members were involved in various criminal activities beyond this murder.
Right after the December killing, the Bambiha gang claimed responsibility on social media. They described it as a revenge strike connected to the 2022 assassination of singer Sidhu Moose Wala, which was executed by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. However, Punjab police officials offered a different perspective. They suggested the murder resulted from gangster rivalry and a struggle to control the lucrative kabaddi industry, estimated to be worth around Rs 1,000 crore globally.
Origins of the Bambiha Gang
The Bambiha gang has deep roots in kabaddi culture. Its former leader, Davinder Singh Sidhu, was once a popular kabaddi player in Punjab. Police records show Sidhu, a resident of Bambiha village in Moga district, faced arrest in a murder case and later received a prison sentence. Investigators allege that during his incarceration, he connected with multiple gangsters, received training, and earned the nickname "Bambiha."
Authorities believe his prison associations helped him transition into organized crime and eventually lead the group that became known as the Bambiha gang. In 2016, Punjab Police reported that Sidhu died in an encounter, but those he trained continued his criminal legacy.
Kolkata's History with Interstate Criminals
This incident marks another chapter in Kolkata's encounters with interstate criminals. Back in 2021, Bengal STF collaborated with Punjab Police in a daring operation. They located gangster Jaipal Singh Bhullar from Punjab and his associate Jaspreet Singh, alias Jassi Kharar, hiding inside the Shukhobrishti housing complex in New Town. Both criminals were gunned down during that confrontation.
The recent arrest demonstrates ongoing efforts by Kolkata police to tackle organized crime networks operating across state borders. The swift action following the Punjab alert highlights improved interstate coordination among law enforcement agencies.
