Samba police bust interstate criminal gang, arrest main kingpin linked to Chandigarh chemist firing case

PTC Web Desk: In a major breakthrough against organised crime, the Samba police have busted an interstate gang of hardened criminals operating across Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. The gang, allegedly working under the directions of jailed gangster Rohit Kumar alias Makhan, was involved in extortion activities in both states and has been linked to a recent high-profile shooting incident in Chandigarh.

According to police officials, the gang's involvement surfaced during investigations into the Chandigarh chemist firing case, in which a pharmacy worker was shot dead in broad daylight. One of the key accused in the case, Amit Kumar alias Sharabi, has been arrested along with other gang members during the operation.

The police said that Rohit Kumar alias Makhan, despite being in jail, was coordinating criminal activities through aides and maintaining links with several Punjab-based gangsters. He is believed to have played a crucial role in organising and directing the gang's operations.

The arrested accused have been identified as: Amit Kumar alias Sharabi, son of Omkar Nath, resident of Samba. Ajay Kumar, son of Ramesh Kumar, resident of Samba, Manik Sanhotra, son of Dewan Chand, resident of Tehsil Ramgarh, District Samba, Vivek Mehra, son of Vijay Kumar, resident of Chak Manga Rakwal, Samba, Sunny Mehra, son of Kuldeep Raj, resident of Badhori, Bari Brahmana, District Samba and Aryan Sharma, son of Amarjeet Sharma, resident of Bypass Kunjwani, District Jammu.

The police further said accused Sunny Mehra and Aryan Sharma, who had been arrested earlier, have already been handed over to the Chandigarh Police in connection with the ongoing investigation.

During the operation, the police recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition  and cash from the accused on their disclosure. The seized items include one AK-47 magazine, 38 AK-47 rounds, 10 pistol rounds, two country-made pistols, one desi katta, one sharp-edged weapon (Toka), and cash amounting to Rs 18,000.

Officials said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend other aides linked to the criminal network.