In a high-tension encounter in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, two alleged shooters sustained bullet injuries following retaliatory action by the Punjab Police, officials confirmed on Friday.
The encounter occurred on April 17, after police, acting on information obtained from a gang member arrested earlier, located the suspects who were allegedly planning another attack. The operation was jointly conducted by the Punjab Police and the Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF).
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran, Abhimanyu Rana, shared the details:
“On March 21, two unidentified individuals had opened fire on Gurpreet, a resident of Naushehra Pannuan. Yesterday, we arrested one of their associates, who revealed the location of the shooters. When confronted by our team, the assailants opened fire. In the retaliatory action, both sustained gunshot injuries. One of them, Mehak, is a member of the notorious Satta Naushera gang.”
SSP Rana added that Mehak was also wanted in connection with a hand grenade recovery case from January 2025. During the operation, the police recovered two sophisticated pistols of Pakistani origin, further indicating cross-border arms smuggling.
In a related development, the Border Security Force (BSF) made two significant recoveries this week along the India-Pakistan border in Tarn Taran.
On April 16, BSF troops launched a search operation in a harvested field near Rajatal village, following specific intelligence inputs. The troops recovered:
- 3 pistols
- 6 magazines
- 97 live rounds
- 3 fired cartridges
The consignment was found wrapped and concealed, suggesting a cross-border smuggling attempt.
This encounter and subsequent seizures highlight continued gang activity and arms trafficking in Punjab’s sensitive border regions. Security forces remain on high alert amid rising threats from organized crime syndicates and external elements.