Gang of wheat looters busted, seven arrested

HABITUAL OFFENDERS Police recover two trucks with 41,900 kg of wheat in Tarn Taran

THE GANG HAD LOOTED THE WHEAT FROM A FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA GODOWN IN TWO TRUCKS; HAD HELD THE GUARDS HOSTAGE

TARN TARAN: With the recovery of two wheat trucks, Bhikhiwind police claim to have busted a gang of dacoits, from Manihala Jai Singh T-point, 30 km from the district headquarters, on Friday.

The police have arrested seven out of the 18-membered gang.

The arrested accused have been identified as Jasbir Singh aka Jassu (kingpin) of Bhagwanpura village, Gurwinder Singh of Amarkot, Harpal Singh aka Bhala, Yousuf, Arshdeep Singh aka Ashu of Algonkothi, Harmesh Singh aka Jackob and Robin Singh of Mehndipur village in Tarn Taran district. The rest of the gang members are absconding, said police.

Addressing a press conference, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Darshan Singh Mann said that he had received the information of a loot from Amritsar commissioner of police (CP) SS Srivastva.

As per information, the gang had looted around 41,900 kg of wheat from a Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown at Chhiharta in two trucks by holding the guards hostage during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

“The commissioner had told us that after looting the wheat, the gang left for Tarn Taran,” the SSP said. “Following the information, we laid nakas across Tarn Taran district,” he said.

“Also, sub-inspector (SI) Rajinder Singh of Kacha Pakka police station got a tip-off about the accused trying to sell the looted wheat to one Raju Chakkiwala,” the SSP said.

As per information, the accused were going Ghurkwind village, under Bhikhiwind subdivision, to sell the wheat.

“On the Manihala Jai Singh T-point naka, a police team signalled two trucks (bearing registration numbers PB-05-J-9299 and MH-43-E-7061) to stop,” said police.

“There were around 18 persons in both the trucks and after seeing the police, 11 of them managed to flee from the spot while seven, including the gang’s kingpin, were nabbed,” he said.

On searching the trucks, the police recovered the looted 41,900 kg of wheat.

The accused persons have confessed that since past three years, they have been looting wheat, rice, paddy from several godowns and truck drivers, said police.Fourteen cases of loot and robbery have been registered against the gang members in 13 districts of Punjab.

DSP Bhikhwind said, “The accused were presented in the local court, which sent them to 9-day police remand.”

A case under Sections 379 (punishment for theft), 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property), 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the accused at Bhikhiwind police station.