CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police claimed to have cracked the murder case of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh alias Bhodi of Faridkot’s Hari Nau village with the arrest of three aides of gangster-turned-terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, who has also emerged as the crime’s mastermind.
Probe revealed evidence of the role of Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh – presently lodged in Dibrugarh central jail under National Security Act – in the murder conspiracy, state police chief Gaurav Yadav said Friday, adding that the crime was carried out at Amritpal’s behest, as per some statements recorded in the investigation.
Gurpreet was shot dead on Oct 9 while he was heading home from the gurdwara at Hari Nau village on his motorcycle. An FIR was registered at Kotkapura PS the next day, under relevant sections of the BNS and Arms Act.
Those arrested for the murder include Bilal Ahmed alias Fauji, Guramardeep Singh alias Pontu and Arshdeep Singh alias Jhandu. The killing was masterminded from abroad by Dalla and other persons, said DGP Yadav, adding that different modules had been employed to conduct recce and execute the crime, with their separate handlers based abroad.
The arrested trio was part of the reconnaissance module handled by Canada-based Karamveer Singh alias Gora, DGP Yadav said. This module passed on crucial information to the shooter module through their handlers and cut-outs, said the DGP, adding that members of the shooter module have been identified and a manhunt is underway to trace them.
Probe pointed towards a wider conspiracy to target more people, the DGP said.