Pakistan Connection Uncovered in the Murder of Amritsar ASI Harjit Singh

Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill told reporters that the brutal killing of Assistant Sub‑Inspector Harjit Singh was not a spontaneous act but a contract ordered by a man operating from Pakistan. According to Gill, the foreign handler lured two young men with a hefty sum of money and the tantalising promise of a role in the narcotics trade.

“He promised them cash and a future in the drug business. To keep them under his thumb, he even demanded they film the murder as proof of loyalty,” Gill explained. The police say the footage was sent to the handler’s online hideout and will be recovered once the suspects’ phones are forensically examined.

Investigators say they set up a network of checkpoints across Amritsar after the murder on 18 September. One of those checkpoints, on Thanda Road, became the scene of a deadly encounter. When the suspects were ordered to stop, they opened fire, prompting the police to return fire. One of the gunmen was hit, rushed to a hospital, and declared dead on the way.

The second accomplice managed to slip away in the darkness. “He vanished under the cover of night,” Gill added. “Our teams are still on his trail and we expect to nab him soon.”

In the aftermath, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced an ex‑gratia of ₹1 crore for the slain officer’s family, along with an additional insurance payout of the same amount. DGP Gaurav Yadav visited the crime scene, pledging that “the accused will be brought to justice.”

The murder has also drawn political commentary. Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh expressed sorrow and questioned the law‑and‑order situation in the state under the AAP government, underscoring the sensitivity of cross‑border criminal links.

Authorities continue to piece together the digital trail, hoping to trace the Pakistani handler through the video file and location data. If successful, the case could expose a wider network that uses financial incentives to recruit locals for violent operations in India.