Punjab AGTF kills 2 Doni Bal gang operatives in Ludhiana encounter
Synopsis
Two armed operatives of the Doni Bal gang were killed in a Ludhiana encounter on 13 September after they opened fire on police who had set up a checkpoint based on tip-offs. The bigger story: officers foiled a planned mass shooting at a blood donation camp — a public event — on the same day, revealing the gang's willingness to target civilian gatherings.
Key Takeaways
Punjab AGTF and Ludhiana Commissionerate Police neutralised two gang operatives near Atam Park, Ludhiana on 13 September 2026 .
The deceased were identified as Karanjot Singh (alias Nona) and Sandeep Singh , both from Amritsar .
A planned mass shooting at a blood donation camp at Marryland Palace on Dugri Road was foiled.
The operatives were in direct contact with gangsters Doni Bal and Shaganpreet Singh .
Three automatic pistols and around 50 cartridges were recovered from the scene.
A case has been filed under the BNS and Arms Act ; more accomplices are being traced.
A joint team of the Punjab Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Ludhiana Commissionerate Police on Sunday, 13 September 2026, neutralised two armed operatives of the Doni Bal gang during an encounter near Atam Park in Ludhiana, simultaneously foiling a planned mass shooting at a blood donation camp. The operation marks a significant strike against organised crime networks operating in the region.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on precise intelligence about a planned attack, joint police teams established a special checkpoint at the Under Bridge near Atam Park. Officers intercepted two suspects — later identified as Karanjot Singh, alias Nona, and Sandeep Singh, both residents of Amritsar — approaching on a black motorcycle bearing no registration number.
When signalled to stop, the two men attempted to flee and opened fire on police personnel. Ludhiana Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said the assailants continuously fired multiple shots during the subsequent chase, with two bullets striking the official police vehicle. Officers returned fire in self-defence, neutralising both attackers on the spot.
The Attack That Was Foiled
According to Commissioner Sharma, preliminary investigations revealed the duo had been tasked with carrying out a mass shooting at a blood donation camp organised at Marryland Palace on Dugri Road in Ludhiana on the same day. The operatives were reportedly in direct contact with gangsters Doni Bal and Shaganpreet Singh, who are believed to have orchestrated the planned attack from outside the state.
Three sophisticated automatic pistols and approximately 50 cartridges were recovered from the deceased.
Criminal Backgrounds of the Deceased
Karanjot Singh was described by police as a history-sheeter facing two previous criminal cases registered under the Arms Act, provisions related to robbery, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Sandeep Singh was facing one criminal case at the time of the encounter.
Legal Action and What Comes Next
A case has been registered under Sections 109, 221, 132, 62 and 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 25 of the Arms Act at a Ludhiana police station. Commissioner Sharma confirmed that more accomplices linked to the network are being traced and are expected to be arrested soon.
This encounter underscores the continued operational pressure the Punjab AGTF is exerting on transnational gang networks, with Sunday's foiled attack suggesting these groups remain capable of targeting public gatherings.
Point of View
Not just rival individuals. That the attack was foiled only because of advance intelligence, not preventive policing of public spaces, is a structural vulnerability. The Doni Bal and Shaganpreet Singh nexus has persisted despite multiple crackdowns, suggesting the gang's command layer remains insulated from on-ground neutralisations. The real accountability question is how operatives with documented criminal histories were still at large and able to source three automatic weapons.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Ludhiana encounter on 13 September 2026?
Punjab AGTF and Ludhiana police killed two armed operatives of the Doni Bal gang near Atam Park in Ludhiana on 13 September 2026 after the suspects opened fire on officers. The encounter simultaneously foiled a planned mass shooting at a blood donation camp at Marryland Palace on Dugri Road.
Who were the gangsters killed in the Ludhiana encounter?
The two deceased were identified as Karanjot Singh, alias Nona, and Sandeep Singh, both residents of Amritsar. Karanjot Singh had two prior criminal cases under the Arms Act, robbery provisions, and the NDPS Act; Sandeep Singh was facing one criminal case.
Which gang were the operatives linked to?
Both men were operatives of the Doni Bal gang. According to police, preliminary investigations showed they were in direct contact with gangsters Doni Bal and Shaganpreet Singh, who allegedly directed the planned attack.
What weapons were recovered from the encounter site?
Police recovered three sophisticated automatic pistols and approximately 50 cartridges from the possession of the two deceased operatives.
What legal action has been taken after the Ludhiana encounter?
A case has been registered under Sections 109, 221, 132, 62 and 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 25 of the Arms Act in Ludhiana. Police say more accomplices are being traced and further arrests are expected.
