Bathinda: The Bathinda police on Saturday arrested a man accused of demanding ₹1 crore as extortion from an immigration consultant operating in Mohali and Dubai, following a short exchange of fire near Katar Singh Wala village. Officials said a country-made pistol was recovered from the suspect during the operation.
The accused has been identified as Sewak Singh, a resident of Mahi Nangal village in Bathinda district. He sustained a bullet injury during the encounter and was later shifted to a hospital for treatment. His condition is reported to be stable.
Senior Superintendent of Police Jyoti Yadav, who visited the site after the incident, said the case originated from a complaint filed by Beant Singh of Gulabgarh village. The complainant had alleged that he received a threatening call demanding ₹1 crore on the intervening night of January 9 and 10. Based on the complaint, police registered a case on January 10, and Sewak Singh was named as an accused a few days later following preliminary investigation.
According to the SSP, police teams had been tracking the suspect since his name surfaced in the FIR. Acting on specific information about his movement in the area, a patrolling unit spotted him on Saturday morning. “When the police team attempted to stop him, the accused opened fire in an apparent attempt to escape. The police responded in self-defence, during which he was hit in the leg,” Yadav said.
She added that the motorcycle used by the accused is suspected to be stolen. Further checks revealed that Sewak Singh is already facing a theft case and another case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Police said the accused will be questioned further to determine whether he has links with any organised criminal network. Investigations are ongoing.
