It was announced by Punjab police this Friday that they have cracked Ludhiana gambling Den Dacoity case and have arrested absconding mastermind Neeraj Sharma alias Ashu in connection with this offence.
SP (Counter Intelligence) Ludhiana , Rupinder Kaur Bhatti stated that an amount of Rs 14.50 lakh was looted from Basant Avenue area of Ludhiana on the intervening night of August 13 and 14. The victim in this case was at first, reluctant to lodge an FIR with the police as the sad amount was allegedly earned through gambling activities.
However, two days later, on receiving ‘secret tip’ the police had registered FIR about the loot case and later nabbed both gambler and the looter, stated Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal.
The main accused in the case, Neeraj Sharma, is allegedly a repeat offender and is wanted in several cases including those relating to attempt to murder, murder, dacoity, robbry etc. Along with accused Sharma his four accomplices, including a woman, have also been arrested from Mandi Gobindgarh in district Fatehgarh Sahib.
A .32 bore pistol and 15 live cartridges were recovered from their possession with a car and the arrested-accused persons were reportedly planning to rob 4 kg gold from a goldsmith in Hoshiarpur, said Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta in a statement.
The Indian Express reported that the operation was led by Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Amneet Kondal in coordination with Ludhiana Police led by SP (Counter Intelligence) Rupinder Kaur Bhatti.