MUKTSAR: In an interesting case in the world of crime, the Muktsar police have arrested a militant, Pargat Singh, alias Pagga, of the Bhindranwala Tigers Force (BTF), who was declared “dead” by his parents about seven years back. Apparently to misguide the police, the parents of Pagga had reportedly performed an Akhand path in the “memory” of their son. Pagga is a young elusive criminal of about 24 years and had absconded about seven years ago when a case under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against him and his two brothers when they were allegedly involved in a brawl at his native village in Amritsar district.

After committing the crime, Pagga escaped to the neighboring state of Haryana where he had been living under the as timed name of Mohan Singh. *A number of crimes were com mitted in some districts of Punjab, bordering Haryana and the police remained clueless. District police chief, Mr. Barjinder Up pal said that Pagga was a close associate of Nishan Singh Sirhali, the right hand man of the slain BTF chief, Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. However, Nishan Singh was killed in a police encounter and Pagga took his place in the BTF ranks. After meeting Nishan Singh at Gurdwara of Thathi Khara village (Amritsar), Pagga took to militancy. He remained a mystery” for the police as he eluded arrest. After the killing of Nishan Singh Sirhali in a police encounter, Pagga had a chance meeting with mahant Ranjodh Singh of Amritsar. Mahant Ranjodh Singh was settled at a gurdwara off Gurusar village in Gidherbaha subdivision where he was appointed a priest.

In the meantime, Pagga mahant Ranjodh Singh and his brother Gurlal Singh tortured to death Teja Singh a resident of Gurusar, last year and tried to cremate the body in a secret way. However, the police got wind of the incident and Ar rested the mahant along with his brother. However, Pagga succeeded in escaping. Since there was no identity of Pagga in the police record, he came to be known as “elusive criminal” by the police.

Giving further details, Mr. Up pal said that Pagga shifted to Jandian village (Bathinda) and continued to commit crimes in the Malwa region, including Bathinda and Muktsar districts. Pagga killed two employees of a liquor shop Sher Bahadur Sheru, a resident of Nepal, and Gurmit Singh while trying to loot the shop at Jangirana village under Sangat (Bathinda) police station. After that, Pagga along with his accomplices committed a number of theft cases and injured many per sons with fire arms.

Mr. Up pal did not rule out the possibility of his having training in arms by the Inter-services Intelligence of Pakistan. The police had to set up a static police post at Gurusar village due to the terror of Pagga. Pagga was arrested when Mr. Ranjit Singh, SHO, Kot bhai, laid a naka under the guidance of DSP (headquarters). A huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including AK47 and live cartridges, was seized from the possessions of Pagga.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 31, 1996