A "bank robber", who escaped from police custody five times, and a "former terrorist" involved in bomb attacks in the national capital 18 years ago were arrested here today after a chase and firing by the fleeing criminals, police said.
Baljinder Singh, the alleged robber, and Kulvinderjeet Singh were apprehended from Swaroop Nagar, DCP (Special Cell) Sanjeev Yadav said.
"We spotted them on the Singhu border. We chased them and cornered them. Baljinder got down from the car and started running. We chased him and then he opened fire at us but he was apprehended.
"Kulwinderjeet was also overpowered while he was trying to get down from the car which was later identified as stolen from Bihar. Two sophisticated pistols have been recovered from the duo," Yadav said.
Kulvinderjeet was carrying a fake identity card impersonating himself as Punjab Police Inspector Paramjit Singh, while Baljinder had an identity card impersonating himself as Head Constable Baldev Singh.
Baljinder, who was arrested four times by Delhi Police and once by Gorakhpur, was allegedly involved in a series of bank robberies in Delhi and NCR. He had escaped from custody while he was being escorted to Punjab for his court date but was arrested at Gorakhpur in October last year.
He again escaped from the custody of Gorakhpur police on March 6 for the fifth time.
Baljinder was appointed as SPO in Punjab Police in 1992 by SSP Jagraon, Ludhiana, Punjab. He worked under Head Constable Joginder Singh, who was later dismissed from the service due to excessive absence.
"Initially, Joginder enticed Baljinder to enter the world of crime. In his association, Baljinder committed several armed robberies. He was first arrested in 2002. This desperado has been arrested several times in different states but almost on all the occasions, he managed to escape from the custody," Yadav said.
