The deceased, Harpreet Singh alias Dimpy, and his associates, who were involved in the crime, were already wanted in a number of cases pertaining to looting in Punjab and Haryana.

Most of the accused were hooked to drugs. The accomplices of the deceased who were on a jeep while making an attempt to loot the petrol pump and fled from the spot after Harpreet was shot dead, were caught by the police at a special naka laid on a bridge near Jodhpur Romana village located on Bathinda-Dabwali road today.

Mr Kapil Dev, SSP, while talking to mediapersons here this evening, said the deceased accused Harpreet Singh alias Dimpy had fired a shot towards the private security guard, Mr Sohan Singh, in an attempt to loot the petrol pump after breaking its window panes.

Mr Sohan Singh then fired a shot towards Harpreet Singh from his licensed .12 bore gun which hit the deceased, who fell after running away from that spot for a few yards.

Mr Sohan Singh then fired three shots in the air to foil an attempt of looting made by the accused.

After Harpreet Singh alias Dimpy fell on the ground, his accomplices, who were identified as Gurdeep Singh, Amrik Singh, Harpreet Singh alias Kaju and Vicky alias Lucky, fled from the spot leaving their injured associate behind.

He added that while Gurdeep Singh, Amrik Singh and Harpreet Singh alias Kaju (all resident of Bathinda town) were arrested today and the jeep which they had used in the crime, had been recovered Vicky alias Lucky was still to be caught as he escaped after jumping into the distributory.

Apart from two pistols with live cartridges, some sharp edged weapons and blunt weapons were recovered from the jeep and from the possession of the accused.

All the accused were of 20 to 25 years of age. He pointed out that after the accused fled away from the scene, the employees of petrol pump, including Mr Sohan Singh informed the police immediately on phone following which senior officers rushed to the spot while other officials laid naka at different points in the whole district.

He pointed out that as the accused were involved in a number of criminal cases, their interrogation would reveal information regarding other untraced crimes also.

He said a case under Sections 307, 398 and 34 of IPC and Section 25 of Arms Act had been registered at the Sadar police station.

He added that Mr Sukhdev Singh Chahal, DSP (R) and Mr Harwinder Singh Virk, SI, Punjab Police, had played an important role to nap the accused swiftly.