Nawanshahr: Punjab Police have arrested two alleged associates of a gangster network in Nawanshahr and recovered two sophisticated .30-calibre pistols along with ammunition, according to a statement issued by the police.
The arrests were made in a joint operation involving the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab and Counter Intelligence Punjab, in coordination with SBS Nagar Police. Investigators suspect that the accused were in contact with handlers based abroad and had been assigned to target a rival gang member during his court appearance in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
Police said the arrests averted the alleged planned killing. Further investigation is underway to establish the accused’s wider criminal connections and identify other people linked to the suspected network.
Arrested Men Allegedly Planned Attack During Court Appearance
According to the preliminary investigation, the two accused were allegedly in contact with foreign-based handlers who had tasked them with eliminating a rival gang member when he appeared in court in SBS Nagar.
The recovery of the two pistols and ammunition forms part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged plan. Police have not publicly identified the intended target or disclosed further details about the accused in the statement provided.
Investigators are examining the suspected links between the arrested men, their alleged handlers and other members of the gangster network.
Probe Examines Alleged Link To Ludhiana Sarpanch Murder
Punjab Police also said the accused had disclosed their alleged involvement in the murder of a sarpanch in Ludhiana on October 3, 2026.
According to the police statement, investigators suspect the killing may have been a contract killing arranged by handlers based abroad. The allegation is being examined as part of the ongoing probe, and further details about the victim and the circumstances of the murder were not included in the statement.
The police are working to establish the extent of the accused’s alleged involvement and verify the suspected links to the wider network.
Punjab Police Continue Investigation Into Gangster Network
The AGTF, Counter Intelligence Punjab and SBS Nagar Police are continuing their investigation to identify additional suspects, establish the alleged handlers’ roles and determine whether the arrested men were connected to other criminal activities.
The operation forms part of Punjab Police’s efforts to investigate organised crime and prevent targeted attacks. The allegations against the arrested men remain subject to the ongoing investigation and judicial process.
