Firing on migrant workers: 2 suspects held after encounter

Bathinda: Two men accused of firing at a group of migrant workers in Punjab's Moga district on Feb 10 were arrested after a brief encounter on Sunday, police said.Moga SSP Ajay Gandhi told the media that the arrests followed a tip-off regarding the suspects — identified as Jobanpreet and Akashdeep Singh—who were spotted on a motorcycle in the Ghal Kalan area.
"They were signalled to stop at a checkpoint on the Ghal Kalan-Safuwala road but opened fire, forcing the police to retaliate," the SSP said. Jobanpreet sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg, while Akashdeep was injured after falling while attempting to flee. Both are receiving treatment at the Moga civil hospital. According to the SSP, the shooters were acting on instructions from a foreign-based handler. Police recovered two .30 bore pistols, four empty shells, and one live round from the scene. Both were booked under sections 109 (attempt to murder), 132 (assaulting a public servant), and 221 (obstructing a public servant) of BNS and relevant sections of the Arms Act. A third accomplice, who allegedly filmed the attack on the migrant workers on the Moga-Zira road near Khosa Jalal village, remains at large. The incident had sent shockwaves among the migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and led to strong attacks by the opposition on the ruling AAP govt over the law and order situation in the state. Earlier, police detained two men from Ferozepur district for providing shelter to the suspects.