In a significant breakthrough against organized crime, the Patiala Police on Thursday apprehended eight members of a notorious gang and seized a cache of illegal weapons. The operation led to the recovery of 10 pistols and 19 live cartridges from the accused, who are allegedly involved in serious offences including murder, extortion, and targeted killings in the region.
Operation Based on Specific Tip-Off
The crackdown was executed under the direct supervision of Patiala DIG Kuldeep Singh Chahal and SSP Varun Sharma. According to police officials, the action was initiated on Wednesday after a specific intelligence input was received. Inspectors Jaspreet Singh and Gurpinder Singh, along with their teams, were conducting routine checks when they got information that Gurpreet Duggal, Dimple Kosal, and their associates were in possession of illegal firearms and were planning to commit a major crime near the ruins of Dakala Chungi in Patiala.
Acting swiftly on the tip, the police registered a case and formed special teams. These teams moved to the location and successfully apprehended all eight accused on the spot. The subsequent search led to the immediate recovery of the weapons and ammunition.
Gang Linked to Fugitive Leader and Previous Murder
Police investigations revealed that the gang was being operated by Bobby Mahi, a fugitive currently hiding abroad. Mahi, a resident of Taffajalpura, has multiple criminal cases registered against him, including attempted murder and illegal arms possession. He allegedly organized this group to carry out serious crimes in the Patiala area.
In a crucial disclosure, police stated that six of the eight arrested individuals were already involved in a murder case that occurred on December 28 within the jurisdiction of the Kotwali Police Station in Patiala. A separate case had been registered earlier for that crime.
Accused Identified and Remanded for Further Questioning
All eight arrested individuals were presented before a court, where the police sought and obtained remand for further interrogation. Officials indicated that more recoveries and important disclosures about the gang's network and activities are expected during the questioning process.
The police have identified the arrested accused as follows:
- Gurpreet Duggal of Gopal Colony, Patiala
- Dimple Kosal alias Dimpy of New Mahindra Colony, Patiala
- Dhruv of New Mahindra Colony, Patiala
- Pratham alias Chahat of Sanjay Colony, Patiala
- Sachin Gupta of Prem Colony, Patiala
- Deepashu alias Deesu of New Mahindra Colony, Patiala
- Husanpreet Singh alias Husan from village Thooha
- Shokat Ali alias Karan of Dalima Vihar, Rajpura
Police records show that besides Dimple Kosal and Dhruv, other gang members also had histories of serious criminal offences. This operation marks a substantial success for the Patiala Police in curbing gang wars and targeted violence, potentially preventing a major planned crime.
