Encounter on Barapur-Kunail Road: Police

Hoshiarpur/ Oct 24/Daljeet Ajnoha— A police encounter took place on the Barapur-Kunail road in Hoshiarpur district on Thursday evening when two motorcycle-borne suspects opened fire at a police checkpoint. In retaliatory firing, one suspect was injured while both were apprehended on the spot. The injured accused was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.On receiving information, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sandeep Kumar Malik immediately reached the scene to oversee the situation, accompanied by DSP Daljit Singh Khakh.According to DSP Khakh, the Gharshankar police had set up a checkpoint along the Barapur-Kunail road under the supervision of SHO Gagandeep Singh Sekhon. During the blockade, two men on a motorcycle approached from the Barapur side. When the police signaled them to stop, the duo reportedly opened fire. The police team retaliated, injuring one of the attackers. Both suspects were overpowered and arrested on the spot, and the injured was moved to the hospital for medical care.The accused have been identified as Karan Gajpal alias Kannu, son of Basant Rai, a resident of Bassi Wazidpur in Haryana, and Simranpreet Singh alias Simmu, son of Baljit Singh, a resident of Ibrahimpur under Gharshankar police station. Karan Gajpal sustained a bullet injury in his leg during the encounter.Police said that one bullet struck the bulletproof jacket worn by Police Post In-charge Satnam Singh, while another hit a police vehicle. Officers fired five to six rounds in response. Preliminary investigation revealed that Karan Gajpal is already wanted under the Arms Act by the Sadar Hoshiarpur police, while Simranpreet Singh is accused in a murder case registered at Banga City police station in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.SHO Gagandeep Singh Sekhon stated that both accused will be interrogated further to ascertain their involvement in other criminal activities and to trace the source of the pistol used in the attack.