Amritsar (Punjab) [India], September 18 (ANI): A police officer on patrol duty was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Hakima police station area of Amritsar.
The deceased has been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harjit Singh.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav expressed grief and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends of the deceased official.
In an X post, the Punjab DGP said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore for his family, while a Rs 1 crore insurance payout will be provided by a private sector bank.
“Our brave police officer, ASI Harjit Singh of district #Amritsar, has laid down his life in the line of duty. @PunjabPoliceInd stands firmly with the bereaved family in their hour of grief. Hon’ble Chief Minister has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 crore for his family, while an additional Rs 1 crore insurance payout will be provided by HDFC Bank to his family. The martyr will be accorded full police honours. May his soul rest in peace. Our prayers are with his family and relatives. #ForceIsFamily,” he said.
https://x.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/2100797014619640171
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh expressed grief over the incident and raised serious questions regarding the law-and-order situation in Punjab under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Speaking to ANI, Chugh alleged that for the past few years, there have been continuous attempts to demoralise the Punjab Police and security agencies.
He noted that grenade attacks have occurred at 22 police stations across Punjab, a grenade attack took place at the BJP headquarters, and the Punjab Police headquarters was targeted with a rocket launcher.
“It is deeply distressing; over the past few years, there have been persistent attempts to break the morale of the Punjab Police and security agencies. There have been grenade attacks on twenty-two police stations and the BJP headquarters; the Punjab Police headquarters was attacked with a rocket launcher, and there have been four such incidents recently,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha MP further alleged that attackers are filming the shootings and posting them on social media, while the Punjab government and AAP leaders are in denial regarding the alleged attacks.
“In these instances, uniformed police personnel are being fired upon; the attackers shoot, record videos, and post photos, while Punjab Police officers and the Aam Aadmi Party government are in denial about these attacks, even as terrorist organisations are posting photos and videos of them,” he said.
Condemning the lethal attack on the police official, Chugh emphasised that those responsible for ensuring Punjab’s security are themselves falling victim to terror.
“This incident is tragic. The way a Punjab Police officer was targeted has created an atmosphere of fear across the state. Bhagwant Mann’s AAP government–backed by Kejriwal’s blessings has failed completely,” he said.
The BJP leader stated that Punjab is currently gripped by an atmosphere of fear. Drug mafias, extortion rackets, and gangsterism are sounding alarm bells for the border state of Punjab.
Accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government of negligence, he stated that the government’s failure has created an environment of fear across the state.
Tarun Chugh further stated that despite terrorist organisations claiming responsibility for incidents and releasing videos, the police are focused on saving their own image rather than resolving the issue. He alleged that Aam Aadmi Party leaders are more concerned with protecting their political posturing than with the security of Punjab.
Responding to a question regarding the safety of police personnel, Chugh remarked that when police stations and the police themselves are not secure, it is natural for questions to arise concerning the safety of the general public. He described the situation in Punjab as dire, noting that the government is intoxicated by power while the state has descended into chaos.
Chugh also provided details about the ‘Punjab Drug-Free’ (Punjab Nasha-Mukt) Yatra being launched by the BJP. He announced the commencement of four such yatras aimed at combating drugs, terror, fear, gangsterism, and extortion in Punjab.
The first yatra will begin in Pathankot; the second will be flagged off from Fatehgarh Sahib by Delhi leader Rekha Gupta; the third will start from Fazilka led by Arjun Ram Meghwal; and the fourth will be launched from Bathinda by Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
He stated that these yatras would serve as a vehicle for a public awareness campaign to make Punjab free from drugs and fear.
Chugh noted that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also expressed a commitment to making Punjab free from drugs and gangsters. He emphasised that eradicating the drug menace within the next 36 months is not merely a priority for the BJP, but a firm commitment. (ANI)
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