Police officer and six “gangsters” arrested, four firearms and drugs confiscated

Those arrested are Ankush Sabharwal alias Bhaya, his brother Pankaj Sabharwal, Vishal Sabharwal, Harmanpreet Singh, Jaskaran Singh Purewal, Aryan Singh (police officer) and Rupesh Kumar, all residents of Nakodar.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said police teams received a credible tip-off and set up a checkpoint near Malhri village where a car (PB-08-EZ-2018) was intercepted. The occupants of the car were found heavily armed and in possession of 1,000 Alprazolam narcotic tablets. The cache of illegal weapons seized during the operation included four pistols – two .30 caliber pistols, one .32 caliber pistol and one indigenously made .315 caliber pistol – and seven live cartridges.

“Police have foiled the gang’s plan to carry out a bank robbery and murder of a rival gang member in Hoshiarpur and two others in Nakodar and Mehatpur,” said SSP Khakh.

The entire operation was led by SP (Investigator) Jasroop Kaur Batth with two police teams led by CIA officer Pushap Bali and SHO of City Police Station Sanjeev Kapoor under the supervision of DSP (Investigator) Lakhvir Singh.

Khakh said the owners of the car, identified as Rupesh and Aryan Singh, were instrumental in providing logistical support and accommodation to the accused. In addition, these individuals are said to have facilitated the storage of weapons and illegal substances on behalf of the suspects.

Constable Aryan Singh of Nakodar Sadar police station was arrested for passing on confidential information to the gang. Aryan was absent from duty for over one and a half months. According to police, the constable was involved in uncovering secret details of police operations and provided logistical support to the gangsters.

Khakh said the gang’s boss, Ankush, had links with foreign criminal Lovepreet Singh alias Ladi and jailed gangster Ravi Balachoria.

Police said the accused had gone down in history and several cases of robbery, assault and attempted murder had been registered against them at various police stations. “These records prove the gang’s long-standing involvement in organised crime, drug trafficking and violent activities,” he said.

The case was registered under Sections 111 and 61(2) of the BNS and other sections of the Arms Act and the NDPS Act.

According to the SSP, those arrested will be produced before a local court and an attempt will be made to extend their pretrial detention to investigate the larger network both locally and internationally.

The police have nominated two more persons in the case – Karan Sabharwal alias Kannu and Dalbir Singh of Nakodar.