Arrested gangster Amritpal Singh shot dead by police during an escape attempt in Amritsar

Amritsar: Gangster Amritpal Singh was killed in an encounter with Punjab Police in Amritsar’s Jandiala Guru area on Wednesday. 

According to police, the 22-year-old, who was arrested on Tuesday, was wanted in four cases. Heavy police force has been deployed in the area after the encounter. 

The incident unfolded, when Singh, in police custody, was taken to Jandiala Guru for the recovery of 2 kg of heroin. Upon reaching the location, the criminal opened fire at a police team using a pistol hidden there and attempted to flee, police said. An official was injured in the firing and another had a narrow escape as a bullet pierced through his turban.

"During interrogation on Tuesday, he disclosed that he had hidden two kg of heroin. We brought him here to recover the narcotics," reported news agency PTI quoting Senior Superintendent of Police of Amritsar (Rural) Satinder Singh as saying.

Following which, police retaliated with gun fire, leaving him critically injured.  Police said Singh was rushed to hospital but he succumbed to his injuries. Singh was a member of a gang run by a notorious criminal called Happy Jatt.

“This person (Amritpal) was arrested yesterday and was wanted in four cases. When he tried to flee, he fired upon our team and one police personnel was injured. He died in a retaliatory fire by police. He was part of the gang run by a notorious criminal called Happy Jatt,” SP Satinder Singh added.

Amritpal was allegedly involved in at least four murders and two attempted murder cases, the police officer added.