Petrol station robbery: Punjabi university student among 2 held

PATIALA: Five days after two persons were killed by three armed robbers during a petrol pump heist here, two accused, including a student of Punjabi university, were arrested on Friday. However, the main accused is still on the run.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sikander Singh, a first-year student of MA philosophy in Punjabi university, who hails from Dhadrian village of Sangrur district, and Harpreet Singh of Saifdipur village situated on the backside of the university.

Police have launched a manhunt to arrest the third and main accused, identified as Lakhandeep Singh alias Waris Randhawa of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.

Inspector general of police (IGP) AS Rai said the accused were drug addicts and were under “high influence” of smack and liquor at the time of committing the crime.

“All the three accused are history-sheeters, who were declared proclaimed offenders in cases like snatching and robbery in several police stations,” the IGP said.

He added that Sikander was putting up in a paying guest accommodation near the university and Lakhandeep, who was known to him, was staying with him for the past few days.

“The accused did a recce at two petrol pumps before committing the crime at the petrol station on Patiala-zirakpur highway. They fired at the victims before looting Rs 11,000 from them,” Rai said.

Police said on the basis of CCTV footage gathered from the crime spot, the investigators zeroed in on Lakhandeep.

“Police first arrested Harpreet and during his interrogation, he revealed Sikander’s role in the robbery. Later, Sikandar was arrested too,” Rai said.

On links of the accused with the gangsters, the IGP said Lakhandeep is a notorious character as several cases have been registered against him in border areas.

Meanwhile, police recovered two weapons, .315 bore and .32 bore pistols, and a Royal Enfield (Bullet) motorcycle (PB 13AZ 4456) used in the crime. The bike is owned by Sikander. Police also confiscated 300gm drug from their possession.

On June 17, the trio held employees of the Guru Nanak filling station at Chamarheri village captive at gunpoint. The assailants fired at Kuldeep Singh, a driver who was refuelling his truck. The assailants then asked one of the employees, Laddi, to hand over the money. They frisked him and found Rs 6,000 in his pocket.

They then searched Kuldeep, who was lying in a pool of blood, and took away Rs 5,000 from him.

Hearing the gunshots, Davinder Singh of Alampur village, who was sitting at his friend’s dhaba adjacent the petrol pump, reached the spot and tried to nab one of the robbers.

› All the three accused are historysheeters, who have been declared proclaimed offenders in cases like snatching and robbery.

AS RAI, inspector general of police