Kolkata encounter: Punjab gangster had rented flat in name of 3rd person says police

Jaipal Singh Bhullar and his aide Jaspreet Singh were wanted in several cases of murder and extortion as well as drug smuggling. They were also wanted in the firing on a police party at the Jagraon grain market in Punjab on May 15 in which two Assistant Sub-Inspectors were killed. Since then, Punjab Police had launched an operation code-named OP-Jack Manhunt to hunt the two.

On Wednesday, Punjab Police tipped off their Bengal counterparts about the presence of Bhullar and Singh in the New Town flat, following which a raid was conducted that led to a shootout in which Bhullar and his aide were killed, while an STF official was injured.

Meanwhile, a team of forensic officials visited the flat in Sukhabristi Apartment of the housing complex. Police said they found a number of active mobile phones from the flat. Sources said the two used the internet mode of calls to communicate. Police had earlier claimed to have recovered Rs 7 lakh, five sophisticated weapons, and 89 rounds of live ammunition from the New Town flat.

“Sharpoorji Housing Complex is not a government housing complex. The problem in the housing complex is that a lot of people have bought flats there and put them on rent,” said state minister Firhad Hakim.

Meanwhile, the BJP demanded an NIA investigation into the shootout.