AAP sarpanch, others booked for murder; ‘provoked to snatch police weapon and kill officer’, says DSP

All those who have been named in the FIR are on the run, according to the police.

Atul Soni, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said Charanjit Singh was shot dead in Kot Mohammad Khan after he reached the village with a police team over a complaint about a clash between two groups under the Sri Goindwal Sahib police station. Soni said another policeman was also injured in the melee.

Soni said they received a call at the Tarn Taran Police Control Room reporting a violent clash and firing between two factions in the village. “Based on the call, a police party from Goindwal Sahib was dispatched to the scene,” he said.

Soni rushed to the location around 9 pm along with his gunman and staff as he received further information that the situation had worsened. “When we reached the main street at Rurhi Wala Chowk, we saw two groups attacking each other with bricks and stones and firing in the air to spread panic,” said Soni.

The officer said that when the police tried to intervene and calm both sides, members of one of the groups began attacking them. “One group led by Satnam Singh began indiscriminate aerial firing. During this, ASI Jasbir Singh, who was standing next to me, was injured by a stone on his left arm,” he said.

He said the mob then targeted the police. “Kuldeep Singh shouted that someone should catch the policemen, snatch their weapons, and shoot them. Gursewak Singh and Palwinder Singh grabbed Constable Mandeep Singh by the arms, while Rajandeep Singh alias Billu snatched his licensed pistol,” Soni said.

According to the officer, Charanjit Singh stepped in to protect his colleague but was shot in the abdomen. “In front of my eyes, Rajandeep Singh alias Billu opened fire and hit Charanjit Singh, who collapsed on the spot.”

As the situation deteriorated, both groups attacked the police party with sticks and rods. “To protect ourselves, we fired warning shots in the air using our official weapons. After that, the attackers fled from the scene with their weapon while shouting slogans,” said Soni.

The police said they have launched an investigation, and are searching for the suspects involved in the assault and killing.

Kuldeep Singh and his associates Rajbir Singh, Amandeep Singh, Gurdyal Singh, Jagrup Singh, Baljinder Singh, Resham Singh, Harmanjeet Singh (all residents of Kot Mohammad Khan), Rajandeep Singh alias Billu, Gursewak Singh (residents of Chak Mahr), Palwinder Singh (resident of Pindi), Zorawar Singh (resident of Tarn Taran), along with 10 to 15 unidentified people have been booked.

From the other group, Satnam Singh, Arsprit Singh alias Kalu, Arsdeep Singh, Lovepreet Singh, Chamkaur Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, and Harpal Singh — residents of Kot Mohammad Khan — were also booked.

The police said the FIR has been registered under sections 103, 109, 125,132, 221,121(1), 121(2), 304(2), 191(3), and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and those under the Arms Act.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 crore for the family of Charanjit Singh. Mann said that HDFC Bank will pay an additional insurance amount of Rs 1 crore. “We stand firmly with our martyrs and their families. Their sacrifice inspires all of us to perform our duties with honour and courage,” he said.