ASI Killed in Amritsar Sparks Outcry Over Punjab’s Law‑and‑Order Crisis

Amritsar was shaken on Thursday when Assistant Sub‑Inspector Harjit Singh was shot dead while on patrol near the Hakima police station. The brazen killing has ignited a fresh wave of criticism aimed at the Punjab government’s ability to keep the streets safe.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal seized the moment to launch a blistering attack on the ruling coalition. ‘The law‑and‑order situation is so bad,’ he told reporters, pointing to the ASI’s murder, a recent bomb discovery and what he claimed were ‘about 25 bomb blasts in the last half‑year.’ Badal listed a litany of crimes – thefts, robberies, kidnappings – and warned that “drugs are in every home.” He went on to blame “looters from Delhi” for exploiting the state’s vulnerabilities, insisting that Punjabis would soon reclaim their land.

Across the aisle, Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed his condolences on X, calling the killing “extremely tragic and alarming.” He reminded the public that a week earlier, ASI Jaswant Singh had also been shot at, sustaining injuries. Pilot warned that such incidents signal a “serious warning” about the state’s security.

Former Director General of Police Vikram Singh added another layer of concern, likening the recent spate of violence to the extremist turmoil of Punjab’s past. He highlighted a pattern of motorcycle‑borne attackers targeting police officers, citing the murder of a civilian, Sahilpreet Singh, and recent blasts near police stations in Jalalabad and Fazilka, as well as a shooting outside a Punjabi singer’s residence.

Opposition veteran Partap Singh Bajwa also weighed in, questioning the promises made by national BJP leader Nitin Nabin during a recent visit to Pathankot. Bajwa accused the state government of being “unfit for the job” and warned that drones crossing the border were ferrying narcotics and weapons, leaving Punjab’s citizens feeling unsafe.

In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced an ex‑gratia package of Rs 1 crore for Harjit Singh’s family, along with an additional insurance payout of the same amount. The move, officials said, aims to provide some financial relief to the bereaved, though many argue that more systemic reforms are needed to curb the wave of violence sweeping the state.