SAA event in Punjab, Patiala area, India on Fri 2nd January 2026

On January 2, Patiala District Police in Punjab neutralised an organised criminal gang allegedly involved in murder, extortion and targeted killings, with the arrest of eight persons and recovery of 10 firearms, reports The Tribune. The arrested accused were identified as Gurpreet Duggal, Dimple Kosal, Dhruv, Pratham, Sachin Gupta, Deepanshu alias Deepu, Husanpreet Singh and Shaukat Ali. Police recovered nine .32 bore pistols and one .30 bore PX5 pistol during the operation. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Patiala Range Kuldeep Singh Chahal said the gang was planning major criminal incidents, including targeted killings and gang wars, allegedly at the behest of notorious criminal Bobby, a resident of Tarn Taran, who is currently operating from abroad. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala Varun Sharma stated that a police team led by Kotwali Station House Officer (SHO) Jaspreet Singh Kahlon acted swiftly on a specific tip-off, averting a major criminal incident in the city. Further investigation is underway.