Gang-linked duo injured in encounter, part of extortion ring

Patiala: Two men allegedly linked to a gangster were injured in an encounter near Dalanpur village in Patiala on Monday, police said.Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Varun Sharma said police seized a .30-bore pistol, four spent cartridges and two live rounds from Devinder Singh (20), a resident of Chamkaur Sahib, and a .32-bore pistol, three spent cartridges and one live round from Anuj Kumar (21), also from Chamkaur Sahib.Sharma said the two youths were working for gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Goldy Dhillon and had shot at a 70-year-old man in Dec last year to extort money from his son in the US. "Police received credible information that Devinder and Anuj were planning to execute a major crime. Multiple CIA teams were deployed to track and apprehend them. At a naka near Dalanpur, the suspects were intercepted while riding a motorcycle," he said.According to the SSP, the accused got off their motorcycle and opened fire at the police team before they could be stopped, with bullets striking the police vehicle twice. Police retaliated, injuring both men, who were taken to Government Rajindra Hospital for treatment.A fresh case has been registered against them at Patiala Sadar police station.The encounter is linked to a firing incident on December 12, 2025, in Gaddomajra village of Rajpura, where unidentified men opened fire at the residence of 70-year-old Darshan Singh, seriously injuring him. A case was registered at Rajpura police station.Subsequent technical surveillance and intelligence inputs revealed that the attack was allegedly orchestrated by Goldy Dhillon as part of an extortion attempt targeting the victim's family.The SSP said that on December 12, Darshan Singh was on his way to his barn when three masked men on a motorcycle fired five to six rounds at him, one of which struck his abdomen. The assailants fled the scene with their weapons and vehicle. The case was formally registered on December 13, 2025.Sharma said Darshan Singh's son resides in the United States and that Goldy Dhillon was attempting to extort money from him. When the extortion demands were not met, the gangster allegedly ordered the firing to terrorise the family. Efforts are on to trace other members of the gang, the SSP added.