No arrests yet in murder of Punjab cop; CM announces Rs 1 cr relief; cross-border gangland war erupts on social media

Gurdaspur: A grisly video allegedly posted by a Pakistani gangster on Monday added to the outrage and horror over the cold-blooded killing of two policemen inside an outpost just 1km from the Pak border in Punjab's Gurdaspur late Saturday night.No one has been nabbed for the murder of ASI Gurnam Singh and homeguard Ashok Kumar. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann paid tributes to the slain policemen and announced Rs 1 crore financial assistance to each of the bereaved families. Each family will also get insurance of ₹1 crore.
Ashok was cremated with state honours at his native village, Kailashpur, in Gurdaspur on Monday. His daughter Mamta Sharma has also joined the police force and is due to graduate in just two days. Ashok would have attended her passing-out parade. The cremation of Gurnam Singh is scheduled for Tuesday.The dastardly killings have sparked anger and calls for justice in a land where nearly every other family has someone in uniform.Punjab police have offered no updates on their investigation into the targeted murders. On Sunday, the little-known Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH) had claimed responsibility for the killings. And on Monday, both Pakistani and Indian gangsters stepped into the already murky scene.Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti posted an alleged video of the incident on Instagram with an audio message criticising Indian govt. Just why he chose to insert himself into this incident is unclear but it triggered a counterattack by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.The social media page of ‘Hari Boxer Tyson Bishnoi', which sports a photograph of Lawrence Bishnoi, posted: "The terrorists who took the lives of two brave sons of India will face consequences. Those supporting such elements while calling themselves gangsters should know that the Lawrence Bishnoi Group will ensure they are held accountable." It paid tribute to the "bravery and supreme sacrifice" of the two police personnel.According to sources, police feel the social media posts by TTH and the Pakistani gangster could be an attempt to divert attention.Police are yet to give any official statement on the identity of the killers or the motive. All that Gurdaspur SSP Aditya would say was, "We are working on it." On Sunday, CCTV footage purportedly showing two suspects fleeing on a motorcycle went around on social media.Security has been tightened in adjoining districts. An alert has been issued in Amritsar, said SSP-rural Suhail Qasim Mir, adding that special nakas have been set up, and surveillance intensified.Expressing his heartfelt tribute to the supreme sacrifice of ASI Gurnam Singh and homeguard Ashok Kumar, Mann said, "Punjab stands firmly with the families of the martyrs, whose courage and sacrifice will continue to inspire every citizen."DGP Gaurav Yadav posted his tribute on X: "Our brave police officers, ASI Gurnam Singh and PHG Ashok Kumar of Gurdaspur district have laid down their lives in the line of duty. Punjab Police stands firmly with the bereaved families in this hour of grief."Condemning the killings, Congress MP from Gurdaspur and former deputy chief minister of Punjab, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, has written to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding to have the murders investigated as a terrorist incident. Calling it a failure of paramilitary and Punjab Police, he has urged Shah to convene a meeting of all security agencies at the earliest.MSID:: 128715918 413 |