Chandigarh, February 23, 2018: Punjab Police is seeking the deportation, from Hong Kong, of dreaded criminal Ramanjit Singh @ Romi, a mastermind of the sensational Nabha Jail Break and a key conspirator in the targeted killings in the state.
A formal request is being sent through diplomatic channels for the deportation of Romi, who is also a known facilitator for several of Punjab's notorious gangsters, including slain Vicky Gounder, and ISI-backed Pak terrorists, according to a police spokesperson.
Romi, against whom a Red Corner Notice had been issued, was nabbed recently in Hong Kong, where he had taken refuge after fleeing from India, in connection with a robbery in Choi HungEstate, Kowloon. The Punjab Police was informed about his arrest by the Interpol, said the spokesperson, who disclosed that Romi's involvement had figured in the cases of targeted sectarian killings in Punjab, and he was also involved in drugs and weapons smuggling.
The spokesperson said that Romi was acting as "communication hub" and a link between Punjab gangsters and ISI backed Pak-based terrorists, and was coordinating their activities through WhatsApp, VoIP platforms and Social Media.
Romi had masterminded the Nabha Jail break while he was lodged there in June 2016 and, after his release on bail a month later, had fled to Hong Kong, from where he had facilitated the daring escape with the hZAelp of gangster, Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, who was still lodged at Nabha. Besides providing money, Romi had assured the escapees safe houses and had given his Hong Kong contact number for providing logistical support.
The spokesperson said that Romi's name had figured prominently in the recently busted terror module that was responsible for seven hate killings in the state. Romi had told Jaggi that Dharmender Singh @ Gugni, a gangster lodged in Nabha Jail, had arranged weapons for Ramandeep Rathore, one of the two motorcycle borne hitmen in the target killing case.
Romi was also in touch with UK national Jagtar Singh Johal @ Jaggi, one of the key conspirators in the targeted killings of Hindu and Shiv Sena leaders, including that of Brig Jagdish Gagneja, Vice President of Punjab RSS Unit, in 2016. The two were in touch, through Harmeet Singh @ PHD, a known KLF terrorist based in Pakistan, and had spoken to each other at least thrice between May and July 2017, investigations had revealed.
The spokesperson further revealed that Romi was also acting as mediator to strike a deal between Gugni and Gounder, who were at loggerheads because of inter-gang rivalries.
Besides the Nabha Jail break and the targeted killigs, Romi was also wanted for illegal
transference of funds for criminal and terror activities, abetting and facilitating terrorists, kidnapping and smuggling of weapons. He is also suspected to be a major conduit for drugs smuggling through his Pak-based contacts.
The spokesperson said that after fleeing to Hong Kong, Romi managed to build an empire for himself and was continuing his nefarious terror activities and drug smuggling from there.
The details of the major cases registered and pending against him are as follows:-
Case No.1: Case crime No. 142, dated 27-11-2016, under section 307,392,223,224, 120B,148,149,201, 419, 170, 171,353, 186, 212 and 216 of Indian Penal Code and under sections 11,13, 16, 17, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 was registered at PS Kotwali Nabha, district Patiala, Punjab on 27-11-2016, wherein unknown persons armed with weapons forcefully released two confined terrorists and four confined gangsters from 'Maximum Security Jail' Nabha, Punjab, and escaped by firing gun shots indiscriminately. During investigation, arrested perpetrator Palwinder Singh confessed that the conspiracy of the jail break was hatched between Ramanjit Singh (subject), Palwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, Harminder Singh and others in the jail itself. Romi was released on bail by the court in Case No. 60 dated 03-06-2016, undersections 379, 382, 471, 473, 474, 475, 476 and 120B of Indian Penal Code and under section 25 of Arms Act,1959 was registered at P.S. Kotwali Nabha, district Patiala. Romi escaped from India when he was out on bail. He played a critical role in the jailbreak by providing logistics support in the form of money, weapons used in the jail break, fake IDs used to gain access in jail, besides arranging money for escapees and also making arrangements to facilitate their attempt to leave the country. Ramanjit @ Romi is a proclaimed offender in this case.
Case No.2: Case Crime No. 60 dated 03-06-2016,under sections 379, 382, 471, 473, 474, 475, 476 and 120B of Indian Penal Code and under section 25 of Arms Act, 1959 was registered at P.S. Kotwali Nabha, district Patiala, Punjab. On 04-04-2016, Romi, along with his friends, was caught with a stolen vehicle, one country-made revolver, one .32 bore revolver along with 09 live cartridges and 23 credit cards bearing different names, along with a credit swipe machine. The swipe machine was used for fraudulently skimming the credit card information and then make fake credit card using the information stored in the machine. Ramanjit @ Romi is a proclaimed offender in this case.