Punjab ASI murder accused killed in encounter; Pakistan terror link probed

One of the two men accused of murdering an assistant sub-inspector of Punjab Police was killed in an encounter in Amritsar, even as investigators examine his alleged links to a Pakistan-based terrorist.

The accused, identified as Deepak Singh, a resident of Mulchak in Amritsar, had chased and shot dead ASI Harjit Singh along with an accomplice on Friday. Harjit Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district, was on PCR duty when he was shot from point-blank range by the two men on a motorcycle around midnight in the Bhagtanwala grain market. A single bullet struck him from behind, slightly towards the back of the neck, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said after inspecting the crime scene on Friday morning. A .30 bore empty cartridge case was recovered from the spot.

According to police, CCTV footage, technical inputs, tower-dump analysis, local intelligence and human sources were used to identify and trace the accused. Officers said they signalled two suspects on a scooter to stop at a checkpoint around 9.45 pm. The suspects fired four rounds, prompting the police to retaliate in self-defence. Deepak sustained bullet injuries in the exchange and was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The second accused managed to escape, and police teams are continuing efforts to trace him.

A .30 bore pistol, two magazines, eight live cartridges, a mobile phone and a Honda Activa scooter allegedly used in the crime were recovered. Investigators are also probing a Pakistan-based terror connection, with information emerging during the investigation suggesting that a Pakistan-based terrorist allegedly offered money to the accused for carrying out the attack.