In a major breakthrough against organised crime, the Chandigarh Police’s Operation Cell arrested three alleged operatives linked to the Bambiha gang following a late-night encounter near Sector-43 bus stand on Monday. The accused were reportedly wanted in connection with the murder case of Gopi Nijjar, the key witness in the high-profile Sukkha Kahlwan murder case.
According to police sources, the encounter took place at around 10:30 pm behind the Sector-43 bus terminal when the Operation Cell team intercepted the suspects during a special operation. The accused allegedly attempted to open fire on the police team in an effort to escape, triggering a brief exchange of gunfire.
Police officials said two of the accused fired three rounds in quick succession at the raiding team, including at encounter specialist Satwinder Singh and other police personnel present during the operation. One of the bullets reportedly struck the bulletproof jacket of an Assistant Sub-Inspector, narrowly saving his life.
In retaliation, the police team fired two rounds before overpowering and arresting all three suspects after a brief crossfire. No major injuries were reported during the operation.
The arrested accused have been identified as Ajay Kumar, Prabhjot Singh, and Joban, all residents of Amritsar district in Punjab. During the search operation, police recovered three foreign-made pistols along with live cartridges from their possession.
A case under relevant sections related to attempt to murder, illegal arms possession, and organised criminal activities has been registered at Sector-36 Police Station, Chandigarh. The recovered weapons have been sent for forensic examination to determine whether they were used in previous criminal incidents.
Investigators believe the accused were working at the behest of gangster Donny Bal, an alleged operative associated with the Bambiha gang network. Preliminary interrogation reportedly revealed that the trio had been involved in carrying out criminal assignments and targeted operations under gang instructions.
The murder of Gopi Nijjar had drawn significant attention in Punjab’s criminal investigation circles because Nijjar was considered a crucial witness linked to the sensational Sukkha Kahlwan murder case, one of Punjab’s most discussed gangland killings. Security agencies have been closely monitoring gang rivalries and organised crime syndicates operating across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, where several extortion, contract killing, and targeted attack cases have surfaced in recent years.
Police officials said further investigation is underway to establish the wider network of the accused, trace their criminal links, and identify whether additional gang members or handlers were involved in coordinating activities across the region. Authorities are also examining possible connections between the recovered weapons and other unsolved criminal cases.
The latest encounter once again highlights the continuing challenge posed by organised gangs in North India, with law enforcement agencies intensifying crackdowns on interstate criminal networks involved in extortion, arms trafficking, and contract killings.
