Three criminals arrested in police encounter in Ludhiana

Ludhiana police arrested three wanted criminals early Friday morning after a shootout. The suspects are accused of extorting ₹50 lakh from a travel agent in the city. The encounter took place in Khedi village on Dhandra Road. During the operation, the criminals opened fire on police officers, injuring the vehicle of the station house officer, Inspector Kulwant Kaur. In response, officers shot back, hitting all three suspects. They were later taken to a hospital for treatment. The arrested individuals are Mudit Sood, 24, Abhijit Mand, also 24, and Ankush, 23. Authorities reported that the trio had threatened the travel agent and his family if the ransom was not paid. A case was registered on March 16, prompting a thorough investigation. The police acted on a tip-off and set a trap for the suspects in Khedi village. When officers signaled for the men to stop their car, they attempted to escape by shooting at the police. Officers returned fire, which resulted in injuries to the suspects. Police seized two illegal firearms from the suspects, a .30-bore and a .315-bore pistol, along with their unregistered vehicle. Inspector Kaur confirmed the details of the incident, stating that Mudit Sood was injured in his wrist, while Abhijit and Ankush sustained leg wounds. Investigations revealed that all three suspects have a history of crime. Abhijit Mand has five previous cases, including attempted murder and extortion. Mudit Sood and Ankush also face serious charges. A new report has been filed against them at the Sadar police station for attempted murder. Authorities believe these arrests have disrupted a dangerous criminal network in Ludhiana.