CHANDIGARH: Two gangsters allegedly involved in the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala were killed in a nearly four-hour-long encounter with the Punjab Police at an Amritsar village on Wednesday, an officer said.
Three policemen and a journalist were also injured, said police.
Jagroop Singh Rupa and Manpreet Singh, alias Manu Kusa, were killed in the operation that lasted for around five hours and ended around 4 pm, Additional Director General of Police Pramod Ban told reporters in Amritsar.
“Both died in a heavy exchange of fire,” he added.
Punjab police said in a Tweet, “SidhuMoosewala murder: AGTF ADGP Promod Ban confirms the operation concluded successfully as both Manpreet Mannu & Jagroop Roopa, who killed #Moosewala were neutralized in a heavy exchange of fire. Police also recovered an AK-47 along with heavy ammunition from the spot.”
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann congratulated the Punjab Police for its operation.
“Congratulations to the Punjab Police and the Anti-gangster Task Force for their big success in a campaign started by my government against the gangster culture and anti-social elements,” said Mann in a tweet.
He said peace and brotherhood in Punjab will be maintained at all costs.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa district on May 29.
Roopa and Kusa hid themselves in a building at Bhakna village near the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar. Both the gangsters were at large after the killing of the singer.
The area was cordoned off and the locals told to stay indoors, said police.
Gunshots were heard from the site where the accused were thought to be hiding. A heavy police force was deployed at the village.
Later addressing a press conference, Ban said the Punjab Police teams have been following these two gangsters.
“We were getting their footprints at various places, we had the latest information about their movement which was noted in this area,” said Ban while sharing details of the operation.
“Since morning, our teams had been conducting their recce and they were sighted in that area. They ran and went inside a house,” said Ban.
The AGTF chief said the Punjab Police warned them to surrender but they opened fire at the police teams.
Replying to a question, Ban said the gangsters will be finished from the state. “We are going for a crackdown against the gangsters. The Punjab Police will ensure this gangster culture is finished from the state,” he said.
Ban said it is a message to all criminals who are operating in the state. “Either you surrender or law will take its own course,” he said.
