Jammu, 12 June (H.S.): Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday claimed to have solved the recent firing incident here with the arrest of four alleged criminals.

Three of the arrested accused were beaten up in full public view while being taken to the police station, according to a video that went viral on social media.

The video, purported to have been shot in the Gangyal area of the city, sparked a debate over the beating by canes and belts, with some on social media terming it as police excess.

Police, in a statement around midnight, said while returning from court after obtaining police remand and proceeding towards the crime spot for the preparation of a pointing-out memo, the accused, who were in police custody, attempted to disrupt the process by threatening civilians present at the scene and trying to instil fear among the public.

“…the trio began threatening nearby civilians with dire consequences if they dared to cooperate with the police or come forward as witnesses. They openly claimed to be a gangster and warned the public of their alleged links within the different circles of the system,” the police said.

“The accused persons also attempted to intimidate the police team on duty. In response, the police acted swiftly, applying necessary force to neutralize the situation, maintain law and order, and reassure the public,” the statement said, adding the police successfully crushed the criminal arrogance displayed by the arrested accused.

The three have been accused of firing gunshots and wounding two persons, including a recently released criminal, Paramjeet Singh, at Gangyal Chowk.

Earlier, the police confirmed the arrest of four accused in connection with the firing, terming it as a “significant breakthrough” in the ongoing investigation.

The police identified the arrested persons as Surinder Singh and Harjot Singh alias “Anda”, both residents of Dashmesh Nagar, Raman Kumar of Gangyal and Mohd Ashraf of Narwal.

“…these individuals were found to be actively involved in the criminal conspiracy that led to the recent firing incident in which two persons sustained injuries,” an official statement said.

It added that the accused have a criminal background and are known to have links to organised criminal activities in the region.

“Their arrest marks a crucial step in unearthing the broader network associated with the incident,” the police said, adding that further investigation is underway to identify additional conspirators and uncover the full extent of the gang’s operations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar