DCP (Crime) Gagan Ajit Singh addresses a press conference in connection with the arrest of robbers’ gang in Ludhiana on Saturday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 17

The Ludhiana Commissionerate has claimed to have busted a gang of robbers with the arrest of three of its members. One ex-serviceman is also among the three robbers nabbed by the police.While addressing mediapersons at a conference here, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crime, Gagan Ajit Singh, said the gang was busted by the special task unit (STU), led by Inspector Prem Singh.He said the accused had committed two major robberies in the past two months. Now, they were planning to strike a much bigger target. However, the timely tip off led to their arrest, he added.The accused have been identified as Nelson Masih, alias Sunny, a native of Gurdaspur, and presently, a resident of Sarabha Nagar, Harinder, alias Rocky (an ex-serviceman), and Parvinder Singh, alias Pav, both residents of BRS Nagar. The two accused, who are still at large, are Irshad Ali of Gurdwara Singh Sabha Road and Jaspreet Singh, alias Jassi, of Payal. The police also recovered one Scorpio (bearing registration No. PB10EP6456), a motorcycle, Rs 1.21 lakh in cash and one toy pistol from possession of the accused.DCP Gagan said during preliminary questioning it came to fore that on May 15, the accused first did a recce of the place outside the State Bank of Patiala. As they waited a turbaned man came out of the bank with cash and left on his scooter. When the victim reached Butari village, one of the accused threw chilli powder in his eyes and he fell from the scooter. The accused fled with the victim’s bag containing Rs 2.62 lakh in cash, added the DCP.In the second robbery reported on June 5, the accused stood outside the HDFC bank. The moment a man came out of the bank with cash, the accused started chasing him. They snatched a bag containing Rs 1 lakh in cash from the victim at gunpoint.The STU in charge, Prem Singh, said Nelson started living in Ludhiana after killing a man in Batala. He said Nelson met Irshad when he started working at Verka Milk plant here. Afterwards, Irshad left the job and started working in a saloon, located in BRS Nagar. Harinder, who had left Army, used to visit the same saloon.“After all the accused developed friendship, they choose to have a rich life style. They decided to commit robberies to fulfil their desire,” said Prem Singh. “We will take all the accused on a production warrant so that whereabouts of the other two robbers, who are still at large, can be known. More recovery of looted valuables and cash will also be made in the further probe,” he added.