Aide of notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria held

A .12 bore rifle and 3 cartridges recovered from the accused, identified as Arshdeep Singh, alias Mithu, of Bhalaipur Dogran village in Tarn Taran; his one accomplice still on the run

The D-division police of the district claimed to have arrested an aide of alleged notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria from Lohgarh on a tip-off on Friday.

The police have recovered a .12 bore rifle and three cartridges from the possession of the accused, identified as Arshdeep Singh aka Mithu of Bhalaipur Dogran village in Tarn Taran district. However, one of his accomplices —Harpreet Singh aka Happy of Buttar village in Amritsar— is at large.

While addressing a press conference at the Civil Lines here on Friday, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Jagjit Singh Walia said a team, led by assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Balwinder Singh of D-division police station, was patrolling near the Khazana gate.

“The team got a tip-off that Arshdeep and Harpreet, aides of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, were holding a meeting at Lohgarh,” said the ADCP.

He said the team reached Lohgarh and found a 20-year-old man wandering in the area. “The team arrested the man on suspicion and recovered a .12 bore rifle and 3 cartridges from him,” he said. Walia said, “During interrogation, the accused told the police that he had been working for Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who is running his network from the jail.” The ADCP said raids were being conducted to arrest his accomplice—Harpreet Singh. “We have registered a case under Section 25-54-59 of the Arms Act against both the accused at D-division police station,” he said.

JAGGU BHAGWANPURIA

The police said Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a gangster, is lodged in the Hoshiarpur jail.

On April 17, the Amritsar wing of the special operation cell (PPSO) of the Punjab Police had arrested a dismissed ASI, Ranjit Singh, and his aide, Gursewak Singh, with 7kg heroin at Heir village on the airport road.

The police had claimed that both the accused used to supply heroin in various districts of the state on the directions of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.

Jaggu was arrested for murder, attempt to murder, robbery, extortion and drug trafficking, police said. Walia said further investigation was on and they were hopeful of cracking the entire nexus.