DELHI POLICE SPECIAL CELL ARRESTED TWO AND FOILED CONSPIRACY OF THE KILLING OF SIKH JATHEBANDI IN PUNJAB

New Delhi, March 10

The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested two, one from Punjab in a conspiracy to allegedly kill largest Sikh Jathebandi in Punjab. 

The accused were identified as Malkit Singh alias Jujhar Singh (27) alias Baba of Azadpur in Delhi and (2) Bhupinder Singh (24) of Gurdaspur in Punjab. 

DCP (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav stated that the duo were planning to commit target killing of Head of one of largest Sikh Jathebandi in Punjab and another murder of a witness in an old murder case. 

Acting on a information that one life convict in a murder case who is presently on parole, is coming from Madhya Pradesh with illegal firearms with his friend, the Special Cell laid a huge trap. 

A raid was conducted and two persons namely Malkit Singh and Bhupinder Singh were apprehended from near Beri Wala Bagh in Shalimar Bagh and one sophisticated pistol with 16 live cartridges was recovered from accused Malkit Singh and one sophisticated pistol with four live cartridges was recovered from the possession of accused Bhupinder Singh.

A case under the provision of Arms Act has been registered at the Special Cell. 

Giving more information on the accused, the special cell officials stated that Malkit Singh was born in Patiala.  After sometime, his father Baldev Singh was appointed granthi in Gurudwara Jaimal Singh, Rab da Kutta, Lal Bagh, Azadpur, Delhi. In 2007, his father Baldev Singh was arrested in Banta Singh Bagichi firing incident at Patiala in which four Nihang Sikhs were murdered. After that, Lakhbir Singh alias Lakhha was appointed granthi in Jaimal Singh, Rab da Kutta, Lal Bagh, Azadpur, Delhi. 

In 2010, Malkit Singh along with his mother Jasbir Kaur and two sewadars Sukhpal Singh and Ranjit Singh kidnapped above Lakhbir and murdered him regarding which a case was registered in Adarsh Nagar police station.  All the four accused persons were arrested and after trial they were convicted to life imprisonment. 

Initially, Malkit was lodged in a juvenile home, Kingsway camp from where he escaped in 2010. However, later he was found to be adult at time of murder and lodged in jail. In 2016, he got parole for one month but he jumped parole. In 2017, he was found involved in murder of four persons belonging to Buddha Dal Balbir Singh in Muktsar over property dispute of Muktsar Sahib Gurudwara. 

The officials added that in 2017 again he was arrested in planning of murder of one Pyara Singh, one of Sewadar for possession of Balwangarh Sahib Gurudwara, Fatehgarh Sahib. 

The officials further said that during his stay in Tihar Jail, he also came in contact with Jagtar Singh Hawara. In August, 2020, Malkit got parole due to Covid-19. After coming out from jail, he started planning for the two murders and started contacting associates who can join him in execution of his plan and for arranging weapons to execute the plan. He did reccee about the movements of two target and identified location and execution of his plan.

During the interrogation he has revealed that he wanted to take revenge from head of one faction of Nihang Sikh Buddha Dal as he feels that the head is one responsible for keeping him and his family members in jail. 

The Special Cell added that there is also dispute over heading of Jathebandi and Malkit Singh wishes someone else of his favour to head the Jathebandi. Malkit knows that the head stays in protection and wears bullet proof jacket therefore he can be eliminated only by shooting on his head. Thus Malkit also practiced firing from weapons of his known persons during parole period. He planned to commit the murder during the famous Holla Mohalla festival in Punjab this month. 

In addition to this, he also wanted to eliminate one of his neighbour, who was a witness in the murder case of granthi Lakhwinder Singh in which he and his mother Jasbir Kaur have been convicted with life imprisonment. He runs building material shop near Gurudwara Rab da Kutta, Lal Bagh, Azadpur, Delhi and resides in Sant Parmanand Colony, Delhi. 

To execute his plans, Malkit contacted one Harwinder Singh Pinda who is lodged in Nabha Jail for arranging weapons. Harwinder Singh Pinda provided him mobile number of one Jyoti arms supplier from Burhanpur, M.P. He contacted him through Facebook, who agreed to provide him arms and ammunitions. 

On March 5, he along with his friend Bhupinder reached Burhanpur and procured two pistols of .32 bore and 20 live cartridges in Rs 40,000/-. On March 6, he along with Bhupinder reached Delhi by train. 

The officials added that Bhupinder Singh met Malkit through a common friend namely Karan. Malkit Singh told him about his plan of murder. He promised Malkit to help in his planning. He went to Burhanpur in MP with Malkit and paid Rs.40,000/- from his pocket for purchasing of illegal firearms and ammunition. They purchased two pistols and 20 live cartridges from MP and came to Delhi.