An alert has been issued to all the prisons in the state over an input that Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa is planning to launch an armed attack to get his gang members released from prison.
Additional director general of police (ADGP-Jails) Arun Pal has written a letter to all superintendents of the state’s prisons to take necessary steps to avoid any untoward incidents. HT has a copy of the letter, which was released on Wednesday.
As per the letter, which is endorsed as secret, Landa has also planned to attack the senior officials of the prison department to get his gang members released.
The letter’s subject, ‘Input regarding the planning of jail break’, reads: “An input has been received on the subject mentioned above that the notorious criminal Lakhbir Singh Sandhu @ Landa Harike is planning an armed attack within next couple of weeks on the Central Jail, Amritsar, or some other Jail (like Central Jail, Bathinda) with an intention of getting his gang members released from Jail. As per the secret source, Landa also plans to attack Superintendent of Jail, Addl. Superintendent of Jail or Deputy Superintendent (Security) to get his gang members released. So, keeping this in view, the seriousness of the above input, you are directed to take all necessary steps and measure to avoid any untoward incident. This is for your information and necessary action.” There are nine central jails in Punjab and one high-security prison in Nabha.
The ADGP didn’t respond to several calls and messages to confirm the veracity of the letter.
{{/usCountry}}The ADGP didn’t respond to several calls and messages to confirm the veracity of the letter.
{{/usCountry}}Amritsar jail superintendent Surinder Singh said their jail remains on alert every time. “We review our security measures from time to time,” he added. He, however, refused to comment on the letter.
However, a senior Punjab Police official, who didn’t wish to be named, confirmed the development. “We are also conducting mock drills jointly with jail officers to avoid any kind of untoward incident. Our teams are on alert for the security of the prisons from outside,” he said.
Landa faces more than 50 criminal cases and is the most wanted on Punjab Police’s list. He is accused of targeted killings, launching attacks on police officials, and snuggling drugs, weapons and explosives from across the border using drones.
In May last year, his name cropped up in the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on Punjab Police’s Intelligence headquarters in Mohali. Landa was nominated in the case as a prime accused.
Similarly, in December last year, his name again cropped up in an RPG attack on the Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran district.
Landa has also attempted to blow up a sub-inspector (SI) by installing an improvised explosive device (IED) under his SUV in Amritsar.
Most of the central jails in Punjab house dreaded criminals. In Amritsar, Bathinda and Goindwal Sahib Central jails, many associates of Landa are housed.
In February, two gangsters were killed after the members of their rival gang attacked them with sharp-edged weapons in the high-security Goindwal Sahib prison. The jails department had issued an alert of gang war before the clash.
In February, National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced ₹15 lakh reward for providing information about Landa, who, as per Punjab Police, has been hiding in Canada since 2017.
Landa is facing cases under the Arms Act and the NDPS Act in Tarn Taran, Moga and Ferozepur districts, and Chandigarh. The last case against Landa before he fled from India was registered under an attempt to murder at Kot Isse Khan police station in Moga district in September 2016. Earlier in 2021, at the request of Tarn Taran police to the Central governor, International Criminal Police Organization(Interpol), had issued a red-corner notice (RCN) against Landa. Landa is also accused of making regular extortion calls to prominent traders, lawyers and doctors. Landa has also threatened Punjab Police officers on several occasions.