Full Breakdown
Fatal Shooting of ASI Harjit Singh in Amritsar Highlights Surge in Cross-Border Police Killings in Punjab
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In the early hours of September 18, Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjit Singh, 50, was ambushed near Gate 2 of the Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar. Two motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at point-blank range, striking him in the back of the neck with a .30-bore pistol. He was taken to a private hospital and declared dead. Police recovered a .30-bore cartridge case and have begun CCTV and forensic analysis.
Background & Context
The killing follows a series of attacks on Punjab police in 2026, beginning with the February 22 murder of ASI Gurnam Singh and Home Guard constable Ashok Kumar in Gurdaspur, and including the May 24 shooting of ASI Joga Singh near Majitha and the September 11 near-miss of ASI Jaswant Singh in Ajnala. All incidents involved lone officers on predictable routes, motorcycle shooters, close-range fire and rapid escape.
Security agencies are probing links to the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti network, designated a terrorist organisation under the UAPA on September 16. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH) claimed earlier shootings, but no group has claimed the September 18 attack.
Data & Statistics
- Sept 3: 8 illegal .30-bore pistols, 103 cartridges seized.
- Sept 7: 15 pistols, 5 kg heroin seized.
- Sept 9: 3 foreign pistols, magazines, 5 kg ICE seized.
- Sept 10: 2 AK-47s, 3 magazines, 50 cartridges seized.
- Sept 13: 6 pistols, 49 cartridges seized.
- Sept 15: 1 .30-bore pistol, heroin and opium seized.
- Sept 16: foreign .30-bore PX5 pistol, 3 cartridges, 27 kg heroin linked to an external handler.
These seizures indicate a steady flow of illegal firearms and narcotics across the Amritsar sector, which officials say may be facilitating the attacks.
Official Statements & Responses
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the assailants followed the officer before firing and that a single .30-bore shell was recovered. He announced special teams to trace suspects via CCTV and described the investigation as “on a war footing.”
Punjab Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill reported checkpoints and a “red alert” across Amritsar, adding that a “man from Pakistan” allegedly lured the shooters with money and drug-trade promises.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced an ex-gratia payment of INR1 crore for the officer’s family, an additional INR1 crore insurance payout from HDFC Bank, and full police honours.
The Union Home Ministry, citing the September 16 designation, affirmed that the Shahzad Bhatti network is involved in cross-border trafficking of arms, explosives and narcotics, and in recruiting local operatives.
Punjab Police noted the growing use of drones for smuggling, deploying nine anti-drone systems in border districts and seeking INR2,000 crore for advanced radar technology.
Criticism & Opposition
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh condemned the incident, claiming “Bhagwant Mann’s rule has seen the complete demise of law and order on Punjab’s soil.”
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa demanded accountability, asking how many more officers must die before the state government acts and urging cooperation between AAP Punjab and the BJP-led Centre.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Punjab Police suspect a Pakistan-based handler, no militant group has formally claimed responsibility for the September 18 killing, unlike earlier TTH claims. The investigation remains ongoing; CCTV and forensic work have yet to identify the shooters.
What’s Next
The DGP has ordered heightened surveillance, reinforced patrolling, and continued anti-drone deployments across border districts. Special investigative teams will pursue leads on foreign handlers and the smuggling networks revealed by recent weapon seizures. The ex-gratia and insurance payouts have been processed, and police have pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.