10 days, 8 encounters: Punjab police intensifies action against gangsters

In the past 10 days, Punjab police have engaged in their 8th encounter, resulting in the demise of 22-year-old gangster Amritpal Singh near Amritsar’s Jandiala Guru. Singh was involved in a clash during police custody while trying to retrieve heroin and a weapon. Meanwhile, just four days earlier, another wanted criminal, Malkit Chitta, linked to six murder cases, encountered police in Patiala. During this confrontation, Chitta sustained a leg injury.

While being escorted by police to recover illegal items, Singh, who was handcuffed, surprised officers by firing shots from a hidden pistol and attempting to escape.
In response to this unexpected threat, the police retaliated, resulting in Singh sustaining severe injuries. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Singh couldn’t survive, as confirmed by Satinder Singh, the Senior Superintendent of Police of Rural Amritsar.
“During the investigation, he disclosed the whereabouts of 2 kg of heroin. We brought him to Jandiala Guru for recovery. Unfortunately, he had a hidden firearm and initiated gunfire, injuring our officers. The police acted in self-defense, leading to the demise of the gangster,” mentioned Satinder Singh.

Hailing from Bhagwa village near Jandiala Guru, Amritpal Singh was already embroiled in three ongoing murder cases. On the other hand, acting on intelligence suggesting Chitta’s movement from Patiala to Sangrur, a police team was dispatched, as confirmed by Patiala’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Varun Sharma.

When confronted by law enforcement, Chitta responded by firing three shots and attempting to flee. In response, the police fired back, resulting in Chitta sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg, as detailed by SSP Sharma. Chitta was swiftly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of his knee injury caused by the gunshot. The police team also seized a .32-bore country-made pistol and six cartridges from him during the encounter.
The Punjab Police has intensified its crackdown on gangsters. On the same day, in Mohali, two individuals involved in car theft faced a similar fate, being shot in the leg during a police encounter earlier in the day.