Gangster plotting jailbreak injured in police encounter in Amritsar

A wanted criminal named Akashdeep, alias Akash, has been injured in an exchange of fire between the police and a dangerous criminal in Amritsar, Punjab. According to information provided by India Today and Aaj Tak, Akashdeep was shot during the encounter with the police, after which the police took him into custody and shifted him to a hospital for immediate treatment.

According to Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill, Akashdeep and his associates were hatching an extremely serious conspiracy. The primary objective of this gang was to liberate a notorious criminal named 'Angrez' from police custody. More than 15 serious criminal cases are registered against Angrez, including major cases such as the Bhola murder case and the Kot Khalsa murder case. Akashdeep and his gang had planned to attack the police team to free Angrez from jail.

Police Commissioner Gill further stated that the gang had decided to attack when Angrez was being produced in court or if the police vehicle stopped somewhere on the way. As part of this conspiracy, they were planning to stop the police vehicle under the pretext of a birthday celebration or at a dhaba, so they could launch a sudden attack on the police personnel and help Angrez escape.

However, the police department foiled the conspiracy in time. The police had received secret information regarding the movements of the criminals. Based on this information, the police utilised human intelligence and technical surveillance. By scrutinising CCTV footage, the police team kept a constant watch on the routes and movements of the suspects. After all these preparations, the police team surrounded Akashdeep.

Describing the sequence of the encounter, Commissioner Gill said that when the police team signalled Akashdeep to stop, he attacked the police instead of surrendering. Akashdeep fired two rounds at the police personnel. Despite being warned to surrender, he continued firing, forcing the police to retaliate in self-defence.

The police fired two rounds in a controlled manner, one of which hit Akashdeep in the leg. He fell to the ground upon being shot, after which the police apprehended him. From the spot, the police seized one .30 bore pistol, two empty cartridges, three live cartridges, and a scooter. The seized scooter bears an Amritsar registration number. Police are currently investigating whether the vehicle was stolen or acquired by Akashdeep through other means.

Speaking about Akashdeep's criminal history, Commissioner Gill stated that he is a resident of Kadia village in Batala police district. A total of 7 criminal cases are registered against him in various police stations. Akashdeep had already been declared a 'Proclaimed Offender' by the court, due to which the police had been searching for him for a long time.

He faces a serious allegation of looting a money exchanger's shop in Batala. According to the police, Akashdeep, along with his associates, looted approximately ₹2.5 lakh from the money exchanger's shop at gunpoint. He was the main accused in this incident as well.

According to the Police Commissioner, four other members of this gang have been identified. Different police teams are currently conducting raids at several locations to arrest these absconding accused. The police will now interrogate Akashdeep to clarify other criminal activities of this gang, the full details of the jailbreak conspiracy, and the roles of other members.

Akashdeep is currently in the hospital and is undergoing treatment. Police are collecting further evidence in this case and continuing an intensive investigation to nab the other accused.