Chandigarh:

Rahul and Matoria, two of those arrested, were involved in the assassination of Ambala BSP leader Harbilas Raju Majra in January and were carrying a Rs 5 lakh bounty each from the Haryana governement.

 Chandigarh Police, in collaboration with the Operation Cell, has arrested five dreaded gangsters, three of whom are associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. The operation has also yielded 190 grams of heroin, Rs 4.9 lakh, three pistols, two cartridges, two vehicles and a bike. Investigations revealed that these criminals were involved in drug peddling and murders.

Amid the investigation, police came to know that Rajendra alias Goldie of Jhampur is also a member of this gang. On Monday, he was arrested from the Khatu Shyam area in Rajasthan and brought to Chandigarh. A Fortuner car and several weapons were recovered from him, which he had earned from drug peddling. Police said Dharmendra and Matoria have also been detained for questioning. Based on the information received from them, other suspects will also be caught soon.

On March 7, a team of the Operation Cell set up a check post near the Inner Motor Market of Sector 48. During this, a bike-borne suspect tried to speed away from the police and was caught during his escapade. About 50 grams of heroin was seized from him. During interrogation, he revealed his name as Narendra Kumar alias Aman, a resident of Mouli Complex. He further told the police that the heroin was bought from Deepak Thapa alias Kancha of Sector 38. Subsequently, Deepakl was arrested along with a pistol and Rs 4.4 lakh procured from drug peddling.

The operation is a big step towards curbing the increasing drug menace and crime in the city. Cases of murder, drug trafficking and other crimes are pending against the arrested gangsters. An intensive investigation has been launched by the police to get to the kingpin of this network.