CHANDIGARH: Notorious jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria's mother Harjit Kaur and his close aide Karanvir Singh were shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants in Batala in Punjab.
Jaggu's mother was a former village sarpanch.
Sources said that the shootout took place outside a bakery on Qadian Road in Batala, which falls under the Civil Lines area. Three unidentified assailants on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire on the SUV on Thursday late at night.
Police received information about the incident at 10.45 pm. The attackers fled the scene immediately.
In the incident, Harjit Kaur, mother of the gangster who hails from Bhagwanpur village and is presently living in Urban Estate in Batala was critically injured. She was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar, but she succumbed to the bullet injuries.
Karanvir, son of an Assistant Sub-Inspector, died on the spot.
It has been learned that both victims had visited Tarn Taran in connection with a court case and were returning home when the incident took place.
Senior police officials reached the crime scene and have initiated a probe to find out the motive behind the attack.
Also, the police searched the area and set-up nakas to trace and apprehend the suspects.
Senior Superintendent of Police of Batala, Suhail Qasim Mir, said that Harjit Kaur and Karanvir were travelling in a vehicle and a few unidentified assailants on a motorcycle indiscriminately fired on them as they were reaching close to their house in the Urban Estate area.
Deputy Superintendent of Police of Batala, Paramveer Singh said, "Karanvir was declared dead at the Batala Civil Hospital. We got a call about the shootout late in the evening and rushed to the spot. We got a call about the shootout late in the evening and rushed to the spot.’’
A doctor at the civil hospital said that Singh, a resident of Bhikhowal village, died due to bullet injuries.
The police have secured the CCTV footage of the area and are now examining it. The CCTV visuals of the incident have surfaced on the internet, showing motorcycle-borne assailants opening fire at close range on a white Scorpio SUV, said sources.
Kaur was sarpanch of Bhagwanpur village and it had been allegedly that she attempted to influence voters during the elections. Earlier in March this year, Bhagwanpuria was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau from Bathinda Central Jail and transferred to Silchar Jail in Assam.
He is known for his involvement in organised crime, including drug trafficking, extortion and murder.
Sources claimed that in a viral post on social media, two gangsters from Haryana, Prabhu Dasuwal and Kaushal Chaudhary, claimed responsibility for the attack. Both are believed to be associated with the Bambiha gang.
However, the police have not officially confirmed anything. The post which is in Punjabi, suggests that Karanvir was the actual target and Kaur died in the crossfire.
"We -- Doni Bal Billa Manga, Prabhu Dasuwal, and Kaushal Chaudhary -- take responsibility for Karan's murder in Batala. He used to handle all of Jaggu’s operations. He was in charge of his fugitives, weapons and money. Today, by killing him, we have avenged the killing of our brother Gore Baryar. Even though he knew that Gore had nothing to do with us, today we carried out a justified killing. From now on, if any of our brothers are wrongfully killed, be ready to pay the price. Anyone else who speaks against us should also be prepared,’’ it reads.