Tragic Loss of ASI Harjit Singh in Amritsar Sparks State Aid and Political Outcry

Late on the evening of September 17, an unidentified group opened fire on a police patrol near the Hakima police station in Amritsar. The victim was Assistant Sub‑Inspector Harjit Singh, a 34‑year‑old officer who had been serving the state for almost a decade.

His death sent shockwaves through the police fraternity. Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, posted a heartfelt note on X, expressing grief and promising full police honours for the martyr. “Our brave officer laid down his life in the line of duty. The state stands with his grieving family,” he wrote, adding that the chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, had already announced an ex‑gratia payment of Rs 1 crore.

In addition to the government’s aid, HDFC Bank will release a Rs 1 crore life‑insurance payout to Harjit’s next‑of‑kin, bringing the total assistance to Rs 2 crore. The move, while welcomed by many, also sparked a flurry of political commentary.

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh condemned the incident as yet another sign of a deteriorating law‑and‑order climate in Punjab under the AAP administration. He pointed to a string of recent attacks – grenade blasts at 22 police stations, a rocket‑launcher strike on the police headquarters, and even an assault on the BJP’s state office – suggesting a coordinated effort to demoralise security forces.

“Uniformed officers are being gunned down, filmed, and posted online while the government turns a blind eye,” Chugh told ANI. He accused the AAP of prioritising political posturing over the safety of its citizens, and warned that the pervasive fear could spill over to the general public.

In response to the growing sense of insecurity, the BJP announced a series of “Punjab Drug‑Free” yatras, aiming to tackle not only drug abuse but also the broader climate of terror and gangsterism. Four separate marches will kick off from Pathankot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka and Bathinda, with senior leaders like Rekha Gupta, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Shivraj Singh Chouhan leading the way. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also pledged to eradicate the drug menace in the state within the next three years.

Meanwhile, families of police personnel and civil society groups have called for a thorough investigation into the shooting, urging authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and to restore confidence among the rank‑and‑file. For now, the grief of Harjit Singh’s loved ones remains palpable, as the state attempts to offer both financial relief and symbolic solace.