Daijiworld Media Network – Amritsar

Amritsar, Sep 18: An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Punjab Police was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants while on patrol in Amritsar in the early hours of Thursday.

The deceased, identified as Harjit Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district, was on duty near Dana Mandi in the Police Station Gate Hakima area at around 2.30 am. He was patrolling the Grain Market in Bhagtawala on a motorcycle when the attackers allegedly opened fire on him.

Singh sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Amritsar, where he later succumbed despite efforts to save him.

Police reached the spot and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the surrounding areas is being examined to identify the assailants and establish the sequence of events. The identities of the attackers and the motive behind the shooting have not yet been established.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over Singh’s death and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore to his family. An additional insurance amount of Rs 1 crore will be provided by HDFC Bank, he said in a post on X.

The Chief Minister said the state government stood with the bereaved family and would extend all possible assistance. He also said the sacrifice of police personnel would continue to inspire others to discharge their duties with courage and honesty.

In a separate operation on September 16, Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence wing arrested four people and seized 27 kg of heroin, a foreign-made .30 bore pistol and three cartridges while busting an alleged cross-border drug-smuggling network.

Punjab Police Director General Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations indicated that the accused were allegedly working in coordination with a Dubai-based operative and cross-border smugglers, supplying drugs on the operative’s instructions.

The investigation into the network is ongoing.