KOLKATA: Gangster Jaipal Bhullar and his aide Jassi Kharar were gunned down in Kolkata’s New Town area in a fierce encounter with the police.
The joint operation to flush out the two dreaded criminals was carried out by the Punjab Police and STF (Special Task Force).
According to officials, Jaipal Bhullar is on the Punjab Police’s list of most wanted criminals. There are more than 50 criminal cases registered against Bhullar in police stations across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. Jaipal was carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh issued by the Punjab Police, while Jaspreet had a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
The encounter on Wednesday took place at the Sapoorji Palanji complex in Kolkata’s New Town area. Increased police deployment was seen in the area, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel. Bidhannagar Commissioner of police, Additional Director General (STF) and other senior officials were also spotted at the encounter site.
A tip-off that arms dealers were hiding in flat B-154 led the STF to the residential complex in the New Town area on Wednesday.
During the combing operation, the two criminals opened fire at the STF and Punjab Police. Both Gangster Jaipal Bhullar and his aide Jassi Kharar were killed in retaliatory firing.
One police officer is also said to have suffered injuries in the encounter.
According to sources, the STF recently intercepted a massive consignment of arms in West Bengal’s Birbhum.
It was the subsequent investigation into the matter that led the STF and Punjab Police to Jaipal Bhullar.
