AMRITSAR, September 19: Punjab Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjit Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants while on night patrol near the Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar. The Punjab government has announced ₹1 crore ex-gratia assistance for his family, while an additional ₹1 crore insurance payout will be provided by HDFC Bank.
Two Assailants Target ASI During Night Duty
Harjit Singh, who was in his early 50s and posted with the Police Control Room under Gate Hakima police station, had been deployed for duty at the grain market on Thursday night.
Police said CCTV footage showed two suspected individuals arriving on a scooter shortly after midnight before the attack took place. Harjit Singh suffered a gunshot injury and was rushed to a private hospital, where he was declared dead.
The officer was a resident of Tarn Taran district.
CCTV Footage Being Examined
Punjab Police have launched a major investigation to identify and trace the attackers.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said investigators were examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area to establish the suspects’ movements before and after the shooting.
Police have also collected forensic evidence from the crime scene. A .30-bore cartridge shell was recovered from the location, according to investigators.
Teams are following both technical and local intelligence leads.
Punjab Government Announces ₹1 Crore Assistance
The Punjab government announced ₹1 crore in ex-gratia compensation for Harjit Singh’s family following his death in the line of duty.
An additional ₹1 crore insurance payment from HDFC Bank will also be provided to the family under the applicable insurance arrangement.
The DGP said Harjit Singh would be accorded full police honours.
DGP Visits Family and Crime Scene
DGP Gaurav Yadav visited Harjit Singh’s family in Amritsar and later inspected the site of the shooting.
He was accompanied by senior officers including Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill and other officials involved in the investigation.
The DGP said Punjab Police would stand with the officer’s family and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Another Man Shot Dead Hours Earlier
The killing came only hours after another shooting in Amritsar.
A young man identified as Sahilpreet Singh, who worked as a delivery executive, was shot dead by scooter-borne attackers near his home in the Islamabad Nagar area.
Police are investigating both incidents. Authorities have not publicly established that the two killings are connected.
Police Step Up Security Across Region
Following the ASI’s killing, senior Punjab Police officials reviewed security and operational preparedness in the Amritsar region.
The DGP directed officers to strengthen patrolling, surveillance and preventive policing, while investigation teams continue searching for those involved in Harjit Singh’s killing.
The incident has also drawn attention because it follows other attacks targeting police personnel in Punjab this year. The investigation remains underway, and police have said the perpetrators will be identified and arrested.
source – The Indian Express / Hindustan Times / The Tribune
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