Chandigarh police suspend two cops over suspected role in firing case

Chandigarh: Chandigarh Police on Tuesday suspended ASI Ajay Pal and constable Avinash for their alleged role in the Sector 32 pharmacy firing case. The crime branch has already arrested the conspirators and shooters involved in the incident.One of the key accused, Rahul Bisht of Sector 46 — who earlier worked at a Sector 31 lab befDeaore opening his own in Sector 32 — is allegedly linked to gangster Saba Gobindgarh, a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi. Sources said both suspended cops were previously part of the SIT at the Sector 34 police station.
Investigators say Bisht would identify wealthy individuals — owners of immigration firms, chemists and other establishments — conduct recces, and share their details with Saba, who would then demand ransom by issuing death threats. When victims approached the police, the SIT allegedly intimidated them further, citing Saba's links to the Bishnoi gang. The SIT would then purportedly call Bisht, negotiate the ransom amount, and settle it for a reduced figure.In cases where targets refused to pay, Saba would get shots fired to instill fear—similar to the firing at Sewak Pharmacy in Sector 32. Once the alleged involvement of the ASI and constable surfaced, the police suspended them following an internal inquiry.ASI Ajaypal has a previous case against him. In November 2014, when he was a constable, he and others allegedly extorted over ₹30 lakh from people involved in high-stakes betting in Ludhiana by posing as an inspector and threatening to register cases against them. The Crime Branch had then booked him for extortion, kidnapping and other charges, and he was sent to jail. He was later acquitted after the complainants retracted.Both suspended officers have now been attached to the police lines in Sector 26.