19-year-old suspect in Punjab cop murder shot dead, another held; CM Bhagwant Mann says Pakistan behind attack

GURDASPUR: Police on Wednesday claimed to have shot dead a suspect and arrested another in Gurdaspur in the murder of two policemen in Adhian village of the same district on Saturday night. A third accused, believed to be an ISI-linked recruiter, is absconding.

Police named the slain suspect as Ranjit Singh of Adhian village. Dilawar Singh of Ali Nangal village, who is 19, is in custody and police are looking for 21-year-old Inderjit Singh, also of Adhian village, who is an alleged recruiter and handler.


CM Bhagwant Mann praised the police action and said: "Pakistan is behind the Gurdaspur incident."

DIG-border range Sandeep Goel said the incident had a clear cross-border connection. Inderjit was in direct contact with ISI handlers in Pakistan and recruited Ranjit and Dilawar to murder ASI Gurnam Singh and home guard jawan Ashok Kumar at a police outpost in Adhian to spread terror and disturb communal harmony, Goel added.

According to the DIG, police nabbed Ranjit late Tuesday night. Based on his ‘confession', police took him around 3am to recover the murder weapon. However, due to heavy fog, the police vehicle overturned, enabling Ranjit to escape on a motorcycle, said police, adding that four cops were injured in the crash.

After a couple of hours of searching, he was traced to Purana Shala area. Upon being confronted, he fired at police, injuring crime investigation agency's inspector Gurmeet Singh . In retaliatory firing, Ranjit was shot dead. Police recovered a 30-bore pistol.

Police are investigating how a motorcycle suddenly arrived at the spot and how Ranjit got his hands on a pistol, the DIG added.

From preliminary probe, the DIG said that Ranjit and Inderjit had driven to the police post on Dilawar's motorcycle, and shot the two cops. After the killing, they spent the night at Dilawar's home.

Asked how much money the attackers were paid, the DIG said that since Inderjit was in direct contact with Pakistan's ISI handlers, the details would emerge only after his arrest. It is believed the youngsters were promised a hefty amount, he said.