Two men from Amritsar were injured in an exchange of fire with a Panchkula police crime branch team near Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Sector 3 late Monday night.
Police have not confirmed any links between the duo and the gang so far. Police recovered two pistols and four live cartridges from the duo, identified as Arshdeep Singh and Jugraj Singh, both believed to be in their early 20s. One bullet struck a government vehicle, another hit the bulletproof jacket of a probationary sub-inspector, while a third passed close to an assistant sub-inspector. Police retaliated, and one bullet each struck the legs of the two suspects. The officer added that their handlers had also been identified but declined to disclose their names.
The duo was taken to the civil hospital in Sector 6 for treatment after bullets struck their legs during the encounter, police said. The police recovered a Zigana pistol, a .30-bore pistol and four live cartridges from the two men, according to deputy commissioner of police (crime) Amrinder Singh.
Arshdeep has previously been booked in cases under the Arms Act, police said. A crime branch team patrolling had got a tip-off about two armed men riding a black motorcycle near the stadium, according to information. The informer claimed that the suspects were associated with the Lawrence and Aarzoo Bishnoi gang and could carry out a targeted attack in Panchkula, Chandigarh or Mohali, according to the FIR. The two men then opened fire at the police team, allegedly aiming to kill the personnel, according to the FIR. A senior police officer said the duo had allegedly been instructed to carry out a firing incident in the tricity but had no specific target.
