Punjab Police Arrest 6 Members of Kaushal Chaudhary Gang Linked to Kabaddi Players' Murders

Punjab Police Arrest 6 Members of Kaushal Chaudhary Gang Linked to Kabaddi Players’ Murders

Punjab Police Arrest 6 Members of Kaushal Chaudhary Gang Linked to Kabaddi Players' Murders

In a major success, Punjab Police’s Amritsar Counter Intelligence has arrested six members of the notorious gang headed by Kaushal Chaudhary Gang, including key associates, for their role in the murders of two kabaddi players–Sandeep Singh Nangal Ambian and Sukhmeet Singh. The accused, who had remained absconding since the past three years, were caught while allegedly planning to carry out a targeted killing in Punjab.

The arrests were confirmed on Monday by the Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, naming the accused Puneet Lakhanpal and Narinder Kumar among four others. Six sophisticated weapons and 40 rounds of ammunition were recovered from them.

Sandeep Singh Sandhu, popularly known as Sandeep Nangal Ambian, was killed in broad daylight on March 14, 2022, during an international kabaddi match at Mallian Khurd village in Jalandhar. The incident was the result of rivalries between kabaddi associations regarding the management of international and national leagues.

The Bambiha gang claimed responsibility for Sandeep’s killing, and subsequent investigations led to the arrest of sharpshooters from Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Among those arrested earlier was noted kabaddi promoter Surjan Singh Chatha, a British national. Though initially not booked, Chatha was later named in the FIR for his alleged involvement in the murder.

Another case occurred when Sukhmeet Singh alias Deputy, the former Congress councillor and Jalandhar Rural Congress president, was shot dead in 2021. The Bambiha gang further claimed responsibility for this murder also. The police arrested four gangsters, including an Armenia-based one named Gaurav Patial and shooter Vijay Maley. Puneet based in Jalandhar and a fourth unidentified fellow were charged against murder and the Arms Act.

In addition to their involvement in these high-profile murders, the arrested gang members were linked to an indiscriminate firing incident at the Highway King Hotel in Rajasthan last year. They had also demanded extortion of ₹5 crore in the same case.

An FIR has been registered in Amritsar against the accused. DGP Gaurav Yadav lauded the Amritsar Counter Intelligence unit for foiling a potential targeted killing, terming it a significant success in the fight against organized crime in Punjab.

“This is a step forward for the Punjab Police towards the dismantling of criminal networks and the state’s citizens are assured of security,” Yadav said.

Police are still conducting an investigation into the remaining members of the Kaushal Chaudhary gang to bring those involved to justice.