Chandigarh: In a significant breakthrough against organized crime and gang culture, a joint operation by the Chandigarh Police, Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), and local district units has led to the arrest of four dreaded shooters. The apprehended individuals are closely associated with the notorious Doni Bal and Davinder Bambiha gang network.
According to top police officials, the arrested individuals were behind the high-profile firing incident targeting a prominent student leader at Panjab University (PU) campus. Police have recovered three sophisticated automatic weapons, live cartridges, and a getaway vehicle from their possession. Notably, one of the arrested individuals is a proclaimed offender (PO) and a long-time fugitive from the law.
The Campus Shootout: Targeting the SOPU Leader
The arrest traces back to a brazen shooting incident on March 17 inside the Panjab University campus during the annual "Jhankaar" student festival. The shooters targeted Jashanpreet Singh Jawanda, a prominent leader of the Students’ Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU).
Four assailants arrived on a stolen Honda Activa scooter near the Department of Botany and opened fire at Jawanda. Although the student leader managed to run and narrowly escape unhurt, the attackers chased him and fired multiple rounds, sending shockwaves across the university.
Following the attack, a social media post allegedly uploaded by the Davinder Bambiha gang claimed responsibility. The post openly declared that Jawanda was targeted on the directions of gangsters Shaganpreet and Doni Bal because of his alleged proximity to rival Lawrence Bishnoi-linked factions, revealing a bitter gang rivalry infiltrating student politics.
High-Drama Encounter and Major Arrests
Following intensive technical surveillance and tracking across multiple locations including Chandigarh, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Amloh, the police zeroed in on the suspects.
The main shooter, identified as Jaspreet Singh alias Jas (also known as Jass Panaich), a resident of Kheri Noudh Singh, was intercepted on the Amloh-Patran road. In a desperate bid to escape, the accused opened fire at the police party. The police retaliated in self-defense, injuring Jaspreet in the leg before successfully overpowering him. He was immediately shifted to a hospital under tight security.
Following his interrogation, successive raids led to the arrest of three of his close accomplices. Among the arrested is a seasoned fugitive who had been evading the police for months in connection with separate heinous crimes.
Recoveries Made by the Police:
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3 Automatic/Country-made Weapons (including .32 bore pistols)
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Multiple live cartridges and empty shells
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A Hyundai Creta car used for harboring the criminals
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A stolen motorcycle used during their escape route
The Dramatic Escape Route
Investigation revealed that after firing shots at the PU campus, the accused hit a dead end near a temple in Sector 14. They abandoned their scooter, entered the temple premises, and threatened the resident priest at gunpoint. Later, they fled toward Sector 25, where they snatched a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle from a couple at gunpoint to escape the city limits.
Police Statements and Future Course of Action
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that the timely arrest has averted further bloodshed and potential retaliatory gang wars in the region.
"Preliminary investigations confirm that these shooters were acting directly at the behest of foreign and jail-based handlers of the Doni Bal and Bambiha syndicate. We are now establishing the backward and forward linkages to trace the source of these automatic weapons," the DGP said.
