Punjab Police arrest key accused in Batala, SBS Nagar firing cases; overseas links under probe

August 20, 2026

Chandigarh: The Punjab Police on Thursday said it had achieved major breakthroughs in two separate criminal cases in Batala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (SBS Nagar), with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) arresting the main accused in intelligence-based joint operations.

The operations were conducted by the AGTF in coordination with Police Districts Batala and SBS Nagar, the Punjab Police said.

Punjab Police has achieved major breakthroughs today, in two separate criminal incidents in Batala and S.B.S. Nagar, in joint intelligence-based operations conducted by the Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF) with Police Districts Batala and S.B.S. Nagar, leading to arrest of main…

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) August 20, 2026

According to the police, the arrested accused are allegedly involved in a firing incident in village Quadian Rajputana in Batala and an attack on a police party in SBS Nagar.

Overseas criminal links under investigation

Preliminary investigations have revealed suspected connections with Organised Criminal Network (OCN) nodes based abroad, the police said.

Investigators are now working to establish the complete forward and backward linkages in both cases and identify and apprehend other persons allegedly involved.

The Punjab Police said further investigation is underway to trace the wider network and establish the role of other accused.

The latest operations are part of the force’s ongoing efforts to dismantle organised criminal networks and maintain peace, safety and security across Punjab.