Akali sarpanch in Moga arrested for ‘sheltering gangsters’

He is already facing three cases, including one of murder.

The police in Moga have arrested the sarpanch of Buttar Kalan village — Jaswinder Singh, who belongs to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — for allegedly giving shelter to gangsters. Two pistols (.32 bore) and a rifle (.12 bore) were seized from his house, police said.

Booked on Thursday and arrested late Friday evening for alleged association with members of the Davinder Bambiha gang that is named after a gangster who was killed in Bathinda in 2015, Jaswinder was sent to judicial custody on Saturday.

He is already facing three cases, including one of murder.

Senior superintendent of police, Moga, Raj Jit Singh said investigation is under process. Jaswinder was arrested from the outskirts of the village and remained in a day’s police remand. Police said the weapons recovered from him are licensed in the name of other persons who have been identified and will face action.

Police officers involved with the probe said Jaswinder got in touch with the Bambiha gang members, such as Sukhjeet Singh alias Buddha Khosa, due to his rivalry with another gang led by Gagna Hathoor.

On January 17, police got the tip-off that Jaswinder gave shelter to the gang members, at which police registered a case against him under section 216 (harbouring offender who has escaped from custody) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Arms Act at the police station in Badhni Kalan.