ASI held for snatching SUV, firing at man who gave him lift

Bathinda: An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Mansa police allegedly attacked a local resident, snatched his licensed pistol, and fled with his SUV after taking a lift on the intervening night of February 8 and 9. The victim was injured and admitted to Mansa civil hospital. Police later booked the ASI on charges of attempt to murder, robbery and voluntarily causing hurt, and arrested him late Tuesday.According to the complaint filed by Gurpreet Singh of Jhanduke village, he was on his way to Muktsar in his Innova to attend a wedding when a uniformed policeman signalled him to stop a few kilometres outside Mansa. The cop, later identified as ASI Dhanna Singh, requested a lift to Singo village. After travelling some distance, the ASI allegedly picked up Gurpreet's licensed pistol from the dashboard.He then asked Gurpreet to stop the vehicle and assaulted him. When Gurpreet resisted, the ASI allegedly opened fire, but the shot missed him. After beating him up, the accused fled with the Innova, leaving Gurpreet injured on the roadside.Gurpreet reached the Civil Hospital and gave his statement to the police on Tuesday.Mansa SSP Bhagirath Singh Meena and DSP Buta Singh told TOI that ORP-rank ASI Dhanna Singh, posted in the police lines, had indeed taken a lift from the complainant before assaulting him, snatching his weapon and vehicle, and escaping. A case has been registered at Mansa Sadar police station, and the ASI has been arrested, they added.