TEN CHARGED IN KIDNAPPINGS

4 Men Abducted At Gunpoint, Beaten In Drug-Related Crime

Probe Continues In Jan. 16 Shooting Death Of Rajesh Owaan

Ten men have now been charged in the drug-related kidnapping of four
men who were beaten during their captivity.

The accused, who include two of four men who had allegedly kidnapped
the last victim, Balkar Singh, 33, from a Brampton street on Jan. 13,
now face a total of more than 200 charges.

"We're still looking for two more men, but essentially the task force
has been shut down," Peel Acting Det. Sgt. Jim Dolan said yesterday.

An arrest warrant has also been issued for Gaganpreet Gill, 31, of
Brampton, said Dolan, the lead investigator of the 18-member task
force probing the kidnappings.

Early-morning raids involving task-force officers and Peel's tactical
unit at several locations two weeks ago resulted in four arrests,
police confirmed yesterday. Six other men allegedly involved in the
kidnappings were arrested last month.

It's alleged the three earlier victims were kidnapped as a way to
force them to reveal the whereabouts of a missing $300,000 worth of marijuana.

Police sources said the missing marijuana was part of a shipment
being transported by a Brampton-based drug-trafficking network that
allegedly used trucks to move illegal narcotics across Canada and
into the United States. The marijuana has not been recovered.

All four victims were beaten after being abducted at gunpoint between
Jan. 6 and 9. They were released before Singh, a truck driver, was
abducted at gunpoint in Brampton on Jan. 13.

Dolan confirmed investigators weren't aware that Singh had even been
kidnapped until one of the freed captives contacted police.

The names of the other three victims haven't been released for their
protection, police said.

As police continue to search for others involved in the violent
kidnapping spree, Ontario's Special Investigations Unit continues to
probe the Jan. 16 shooting death of Rajesh Owaan, 21, of Concord. He
was killed as Peel tactical officers tried to execute a search
warrant at a Caledon home where Singh was believed being held for
three days before being released.

It's believed at least one of the other kidnap victims was also held
at that same residence on Bramalea Rd.

The latest to be arrested in connection with the kidnappings include
Jatinder Bains, 20, of Toronto and Gurnham Toor, 36, of Brampton,
both facing several firearms and kidnapping-related charges. Bains
remains in custody but Toor was granted bail.

Baljit Sall, 38, and Dharminder Hundall, 40, both of Mississauga, are
charged with several firearms offences and have been granted bail.

Jagdeep Singh, 43, of Hamilton, who was wounded in the gunfire,
wasn't charged with any offence in connection with the kidnappings
but was charged with breach of probation, breach of recognizance and
several firearms offences related to the search warrant at the
Caledon residence, where police say he was living at the time of the shooting.

Harnesh Singh, 41, of Maple, and Amandeep Soos, 25, Abitabh Sharma,
25, and Jaskaranjit Singh, 35, all of Brampton, were previously
charged with several counts of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to
commit aggravated assault, forcible confinement, kidnapping,
kidnapping using a firearm and aggravated assault.

The four men are out on bail.

Sukhjit Dhaliwal, 31, of Woodbridge, whom police alleged was a key
player in ordering the kidnappings, remains in custody and is charged
with several counts of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to commit
aggravated assault, forcible confinement, kidnapping, kidnapping
using a firearm and aggravated assault.

Bains and Sharma are alleged to have been gunmen in the Singh
kidnappings, police said.