Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
One of the accused in the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harjeet Singh was gunned down in a police encounter in Punjab’s Amritsar on Saturday, while another suspect escaped under the cover of darkness. The slain accused, identified as Deepak Singh, was allegedly linked to Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti and his terror module.
Amritsar Commissioner of Police Harmanbir Singh Gill said police had been working on the murder case since September 18 and had set up checkpoints across the city, including one on Thanda Road. After receiving credible information, police issued a red alert and signalled Deepak to stop at the checkpoint.
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Gill said Deepak opened fire at the police team, firing four rounds. The police fired six rounds in self-defence, hitting him once. He was immediately taken towards a hospital but died on the way. Doctors declared him brought dead, Gill said.
Another suspect who was with Deepak escaped by taking advantage of the darkness, Gill said, adding that police teams were pursuing him and expected to apprehend him soon.
Police recovered a .30-bore pistol, two magazines, eight live cartridges, a mobile phone and an Activa scooter allegedly used in the crime.
PAKISTAN-BASED TERROR LINK
Gill said a man based in Pakistan and operating from abroad had lured the accused with promises of money and involvement in the narcotics trade. He alleged that the handler demanded proof of their loyalty and assigned them to target and kill a lone police officer and record the act.
Gill further said the attackers had filmed Harjeet Singh after he was shot and sent the footage to their handler. He said the video could be recovered during forensic examination of the accused’s mobile phones.
The police commissioner said investigators would also use location coordinates and other technical evidence to establish the links and present a strong case in court.
According to the information provided by police, the accused Deepak Singh was in contact with Shahzad Bhatti, who allegedly operates under the name Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH).
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently designated Shahzad Bhatti as a terrorist and his network as a terrorist organisation. Police are also examining alleged links between Bhatti’s network and earlier target killings of Punjab Police personnel.
THE MURDER OF ASI HARJEET SINGH
ASI Harjeet Singh, around 50, was on PCR duty when two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly followed him and opened fire near Gate No. 2 of the Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar in the early hours of September 18.
Singh suffered a fatal gunshot injury and later died. Police have been examining CCTV footage and telecom data as part of the investigation into the killing.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
