The three accused who attempted to kill a doctor in Moga have been arrested after an encounter with Punjab Police.
In a statement issued here Sunday, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the Moga Police, in a joint operation with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) & Counter Intelligence, has busted a target killing plot orchestrated by Canada-based Gangster Lakhbir Singh alias Landa Harike and apprehended the three key operatives.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the arrested accused were acting on the directions of Lakhvir Singh alias Landa Harike to eliminate Dr Aniljit Kamboj. During the operation, an exchange of fire took place between the police and the accused, in which the accused sustained gunshot injuries to their legs. They have been shifted to Civil Hospital for treatment,” said the DGP.
DGP Yadav said that the arrested men have been identified as : Gurlal Singh alias Gola of Garden Colony Patti, Tarn Taran, Khushpreet Singh alias Khush of Garden Colony Patti, Tarn Taran and Gurmandeep Singh alias Foji of Talwandi Soba Singh, Tarn Taran.
He added that backed by human intelligence and technical inputs, the team successfully dismantled this targeted killing module, averting a serious threat to public safety.
Two pistols (.30 bore) with 10 live cartridges, one pistol (.32 bore) with three live cartridges and one car have been recovered from the accused.
An FIR has been registered at Police Station Fatehgarh Panjtoor and further investigation is underway to trace the module’s forward and backward linkages.
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On July 4, Dr Aniljit Kamboj was critically injured after being shot by two unidentified assailants at his Harbans Nursing Home in Kot Ise Khan, Moga district, Punjab. The attackers, posing as patients, fired multiple shots, hitting Dr. Kamboj in the chest and abdomen. He was rushed to Moga Medicity Hospital, where he remains on a ventilator in critical condition following a surgery to remove the bullets.
Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh Sunday said that the state government will not spare those who disrupt the law and order situation in the state at any cost. “The incident of the deadly attack on Dr Anil Kamboj in Moga recently is very unfortunate and the Punjab government will not spare its culprits at any cost even if they hide in any corner of the world,” said the minister.
Dr Balbir Singh also visited the private hospital in Moga to inquire about the health of Dr Kamboj. He said that it is not humane to shoot a doctor by posing as a fake patient.
“To save his life, he is being provided with the best possible treatment and the Punjab government is providing all possible help for his treatment,” said the minister, as he also consulted experts from the DMCH Ludhiana via web-conferencing.
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The minister spoke to Dr Bishav Mohan, the renowned cardiologist. He said that a team of expert doctors from DMCH will also reach Moga soon. He said that those who have committed this heinous act will be given exemplary punishment.
He said that the Punjab government is making efforts for the safety of doctors and mapping of hospitals with nearby police stations has been done. “No person who misbehaves with medical staff is being spared and district level committees have also been formed in this regard,” said Dr Singh.
Dr Kamboj was receiving extortion calls from Landa group since 2022, and an FIR was also registered in the matter in December 2022 at Kot Ise Khan police station against Landa. The callers were allegedly demanding Rs 1 crore from the doctor. The Moga Police had also security cover to Dr Kamboj which was recently withdrawn, according to his family.
