‘Suspect’ in cops’ killing shot dead in encounter, another held

Gurdaspur: Police shot dead a 19-year-old youth in an encounter on Wednesday for his alleged role in the Feb 21 killing of two policemen near the Pakistan border in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. One accomplice was arrested, while the suspected mastermind remains at large.Sandeep Goel, deputy inspector general (DIG), Border Range, identified the suspects as Ranjit Singh (the deceased) and Dilawar Singh, both teenagers from Adhiya village. A third suspect, 21-year-old Inderjit Singh of Ali Nangal—believed to be the recruiter and handler—absconded.
According to the DIG, Inderjit was in direct contact with ISI handlers in Pakistan. He allegedly recruited Ranjit and Dilawar to target police personnel to spread terror and disturb communal harmony. On Ranjit Singh's confession, police took him to recover a hidden weapon around 3am. Due to heavy fog, the police vehicle overturned, allowing Ranjit to escape, police said. Four cops sustained injuries in the crash. After a two-hour search, police traced Ranjit to the Purana Shala area in Gurdaspur district. When confronted, Ranjit opened fire, wounding CIA in-charge inspector Gurmeet Singh, police said. Police returned fire, fatally wounding Ranjit. He later succumbed to his injuries. The DIG said that they are still looking into how a motorcycle suddenly appeared at the scene and the origin of the weapon Ranjit used. The encounter follows the Saturday night killings of ASI Gurnam Singh and Home Guard jawan Ashok Kumar. The two were shot dead inside a police post in Adhiya village, barely one km from the international border. The DIG said that Ranjit and Inderjit arrived at the post on Dilawar's motorcycle to carry out the attack. They later spent the night at Dilawar's home. Police recovered a .30-bore pistol, When asked how much money the assailants were paid, the DIG said these details would emerge only after the arrest of Inderjit but believe the youths were promised a heft amount. MSID:: 128785174 413 |