26 December 2025 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The police have arrested an alleged hitman of the notorious Lucky Patial gang. He is accused of involvement in two shooting incidents that occurred in Rajpura and Patran in November.
The accused was injured in a retaliatory exchange of fire with the police in the Dakala road area near Patiala on Thursday.
According to Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, the accused was wanted in two extortion cases. In the first incident, he allegedly opened fire while attempting to extort money from a dhaba owner in Rajpura on November 15. Four days later, he reportedly fired shots at a farmhouse belonging to an NRI in Patran.
The accused has been identified as Manpreet Singh, alias Manna, a resident of Moga. The police said he was already facing cases related to drug peddling and violations under the Arms Act. SSP Sharma said Manna was the main accused in both firing incidents.
Sharing details of the encounter, SP (Investigation) Gurbans Singh Bains said Samana CIA Inspector Ankurdeep Singh received a tip-off about the accused’s movement in the area. The police laid a naka near the Ramgarh highway in Patiala.
Bains said Manna was riding a motorcycle, allegedly conducting recce to commit another crime. On spotting the police, he attempted to flee. Signalled to stop, he fired three rounds at the police team. The police retaliated, leaving the accused injured. He was taken to the Civil Hospital, Samana, where he is under treatment.
Bains said the accused had been in touch with Lucky Patial for nearly a year through a local operative, identified as Piyush.
Manna has been booked under Sections 109, 132, 221 and 317(2) of the BNS, along with Sections 25(6) and 25(7) of the Arms Act. A .32-bore pistol, two live cartridges and a stolen motorcycle were seized from his possession.
Summary:
A gangster was apprehended by the police following an encounter in Patiala. The operation involved a brief exchange of fire, after which the accused was taken into custody. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the gangster’s involvement in other criminal cases.