StatesPunjab
Extortion suspect shot and arrested in Goindwal Sahib encounter, accomplice escapes
Tarn Taran police said shots were fired at a patrol that spotted Manpreet alias Manna, who later admitted to three recent extortion shootings in the area.
Key points
- Police shot and arrested Manpreet alias Manna of Khawaspur in Goindwal Sahib on Friday.
- He allegedly told police he took part in three recent extortion-related shootings.
- His accomplice fled, and police have launched a cordon-and-search operation.
Police in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district shot and arrested a man they say was behind a string of extortion-related shootings, after a brief exchange of fire in the Goindwal Sahib area on Friday. A second man escaped.
Goindwal Sahib is a historic Sikh pilgrimage town on the banks of the Beas in the border district, and the patrol that ran into the two men was from the local police station there.
Senior Superintendent of Police Surinder Lamba said a police patrol spotted the two men. “A team from Goindwal Sahib was patrolling when they spotted two suspects,” he said. One of the men then fired at the police team. “The police returned fire, leaving one suspect injured,” Lamba said.
The injured man was identified as Manpreet, known as Manna, a resident of Khawaspur village. He was arrested and taken to hospital. Police recovered an illegal weapon from the spot.
During questioning, Manpreet allegedly told police that he had taken part in three recent incidents of firing linked to extortion demands in the area. Police did not give details of those incidents or name the people who had been targeted.
His accomplice fled during the exchange. Police have started a cordon-and-search operation to find him and trace other associates.
Lamba did not say whether the two men were linked to any known gang, or what kind of weapon was recovered. Manpreet’s condition was not disclosed.