The Hindu : New Delhi News : Two Khalistan militants gunned down in encounter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 30, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Two Khalistan militants gunned down in encounter

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 29. Two militants allegedly involved in sensational cases of kidnapping for ransom and extortion across North India and suspected to be having links with Europe-based Khalistani groups were gunned down in an encounter with the Inter-State Cell of the Delhi police Crime Branch at Timarpur in North Delhi today. The accused, from whom the police recovered two pistols of foreign make, were apparently extorting money for terrorist funding.

A team comprising Inspectors Pankaj Sood, Subhash Tandon and others had been investigating the sensational kidnapping of two Jain brothers from Sonepat in Haryana on March 25 allegedly by Jagtar Singh Jagga (32) and Ravinder Singh Ranga (22). The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rs. 2 crores but after a fortnight of negotiations scaled down the amount to Rs. 25 lakhs. The abducted men were released after the amount was paid.

During investigations, the Inter-State Cell under the supervision of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ravi Shankar, found that the ransom calls were made from one of the European countries, which raised suspicion that the kidnappers had links with Khalistan Commando Force militants operating from outside the country. Its leader, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, is believed to be operating from Pakistan. These revelations led the team to probe the matter further.

In the early hours of Thursday, the police received a specific tip-off that the accused, Jagtar and Ravinder, would come to Model Town here in a Maruti Esteem car to kidnap a businessman while he would be out on a morning walk. Subsequently, a trap was laid near Timarpur. Around 4 a.m., the police spotted the Maruti Esteem coming from the Ghaziabad side. The police waved at the driver to stop, but the car sped away and the occupants allegedly opened fire at the team. The driver of the Toyota Qualis carrying the police party had a narrow escape.

The police fired 25 rounds during the operation, while the accused fired five rounds. The two militants sustained injuries and were rushed to Bara Hindu Rao Hospital where they were declared dead on arrival.

The two were identified as Jagtar, a resident of Mansa in Punjab, and Ravinder, a resident of Ganganagar in Rajasthan.

Investigations revealed that Jagtar had entered the world of crime after he was arrested on charges of murder and attempt-to-murder and imprisoned for seven years. Later, he was arrested in cases of kidnapping, the Explosives Act, extortion and the Arms Act. While in jail in 1999, Jagtar allegedly came into contact with some Khalistani militants and started working for them.

In October 2002, he along with his accomplices kidnapped a businessman, Shyam Narayan Gupta, from Rajasthan and released him for a ransom of Rs. 50 lakhs. Some of his accomplices, including Jarnail Singh and Manjit Singh, were arrested but he managed to evade the police. Exactly a year later, Jagtar kidnapped another businessman, Sahab Ram, from Hanuman Garh in Rajathan. He also masterminded the kidnapping of Jain brothers from Sonepat.

According to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), B.K. Gupta, Jagtar and Ravinder had tried to kill one of their rivals, Rakesh, at Ganganagar this March 20. Mr. Gupta said that from the Maruti Esteem, the police recovered posters and stickers of a Bahujan Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha candidate. "All possibilities pertaining to the posters are being investigated," added the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Deependra Pathak.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi