Punjab jailbreak: Three conspirators held in Delhi

Three persons have been arrested here for their involvement in a jailbreak in Punjab which led to the escape of two Khalistani terrorists, police said on Thursday.

Chanpreet Singh of Punjab, Harjot Singh of Haryana and Ranjit Singh of Delhi were arrested on Wednesday night near the Moolchand flyover in south Delhi.

They tried to open fire but were overpowered, a police officer said.

Chanpreet Singh, the main accused, along with Harjot Singh and Ranjit Singh, entered the Nabha jail on November 27, snatched the guard's gun and opened random fire to give cover to six prisoners to escape, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) P.S. Kushwah said.

A total of 14 armed men stormed the jail in four cars, Kushwah said.

Apart from Harminder Singh Mintu of the Khalistan Liberation Force and Kashmir Singh, gangsters Gurpreet Singh Shekon, Harjinder Singh, Kulpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh also escaped.

They snatched two self-loading rifles from the jail guards.

Mintu, who was later arrested, revealed that some of his associates could take shelter in Delhi, Kushwah said.

Chanpreet Singh and Harjot Singh admitted they took part in the jailbreak. They later fled to Chandigarh and remained there for a night.

When they came to know that Palwinder Singh was arrested in Uttar Pradesh, they reached Delhi and took shelter in Ranjit Singh's rented flat in Lajpat Nagar.

Chanpreet Singh also disclosed that he and some of his associates had posed as CBI officers and committed a dacoity in September to raise funds for the Nabha jailbreak.

--IANS

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