Mohali: The son of a key accused in the Chamanpreet Singh alias Chini Kubbaheri murder case in Chandigarh is among four alleged Lawrence Bishnoi gang members arrested by Mohali police. The arrests are in connection with three firing incidents targeting businessmen for extortion in the district.Police identified the accused as Akashdeep Singh, 23, a resident of Sector 35A, Chandigarh; Praveen Kumar alias Kalu, 23, of Lehra Sodha village in Bathinda; Jasmandeep Singh, 20, of Ansal Colony, Sector 114, Kharar; and Dusant Sharma alias Shammi, 27, of Sheikhpura village in Yamunanagar, Haryana.Police said Akashdeep is the son of Amreen Rai, who is lodged in Burail jail in connection with the Chini Kubbaheri murder case. Akashdeep was allegedly one of the main conspirators and was also involved in the firing incidents.SSP Varun Sharma said the four suspects were allegedly involved in firing at three houses in Phase 10 and Sector 104 between Sept 4 and 14. Police have recovered five automatic and foreign-made Zigana weapons, 12 live cartridges and a Fortuner allegedly used in connection with the incidents. Zigana is a semi-automatic, short recoil-operated pistol produced by a Turkish manufacturer.Firing incidents after ransom demandsThe first incident took place on the intervening night of Sept 4 and 5, when two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire with automatic weapons at the house of Sanyam Judeja in Phase 10. Police said an alleged Lawrence Bishnoi gang operative based abroad, Kulvir Singh Sidhu, had demanded Rs 5 crore from Judeja before the firing.On Sept 5, a case was registered under relevant sections of BNS and Arms Act.The second firing took place on Sept 7 at the Phase 10 house of Baljit Singh, Judeja‘s partner. Police said the assailants again used automatic weapons after an alleged Rs 5 crore ransom demand by Sidhu. A case was registered on Sept 12.The third incident was reported on Sept 14 at the house of Jagdeep Singh Mann in Sector 104. Police said two motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire following an alleged Rs 5 crore ransom demand. A worker, Sachin, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment. A case was registered on Sept 15.Police said interrogation of the arrested suspects revealed their alleged links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and Ravinder Singh alias Kali, a resident of Balongi who is lodged in Burail jail.According to the police, Kali coordinated the gang’s activities from jail, and the suspects were also in contact with Kulvir Singh Sidhu, who is abroad.Police said Jasmandeep conducted reconnaissance of the targeted houses, while Dusant handled the weapons. Akashdeep, Praveen and their alleged associate Simardeep Singh alias Jashan carried out the firing, police said. Simardeep is at large.Police obtained the production warrant of Ravinder Singh alias Kali and said he would be questioned. The four arrested suspects will be taken on police remand for further questioning, covering their possible involvement in other criminal cases.CIA staff and operation cell teams, led by inspector Pardeep Singh Bajwa and inspector Harminder Singh, worked on technical and human intelligence inputs to identify and trace the suspects.Police said further recoveries and detection of additional cases were possible during the investigation.Weapons supplied from across borderSSP Varun Sharma said police suspect that the automatic and foreign-made weapons recovered were dropped from across the border through drones.The arrested suspects are being questioned to establish the source of the weapons, their handlers and the possible network involved in their supply.Police said the investigation would also examine whether the recovered arms were used in other firing incidents.Police said Dusant Sharma has a previous case of fighting registered against him at Sohana police station.
