Amritsar sarpanch murder: Main shooter killed in police encounter near Jethuwal canal
The encounter took place near the Jethuwal canal when police teams took Sukhraj Singh for weapon recovery
PTC Web Desk: A key accused in the high-profile murder of Aam Aadmi Party sarpanch Jarmal Singh was killed in a fierce police encounter in Amritsar on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Sukhraj Singh alias Gunga, the main shooter in the case. A police personnel was also seriously injured during the exchange of fire.
The encounter took place near the Jethuwal canal when police teams took Sukhraj Singh for weapon recovery. According to police officials, the operation turned violent after the accused’s accomplices arrived at the spot on motorcycles and opened fire in an attempt to free him from police custody.
During the incident, the attackers fired six rounds at the police party, forcing the police to retaliate. In self-defence, the police fired at least 10 rounds. Amid the chaos, Sukhraj Singh allegedly snatched a pistol from a police personnel and fired at the team. He was subsequently shot in the retaliatory firing and succumbed to his injuries. However, the two accomplices who came to rescue him managed to flee from the spot.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed that Sukhraj Singh and another main shooter had earlier been arrested from Raipur in Chhattisgarh and brought to Amritsar on transit remand. So far, seven accused have been arrested in connection with the murder case, including both shooters.
Sarpanch Jarmal Singh was gunned down a few days ago during a wedding function in Amritsar, triggering widespread outrage. Initial investigations have revealed that the murder was allegedly carried out on the instructions of the Prabh Dasuwal gang. The police have also found evidence of multiple phone conversations between the gang leader and the victim prior to the killing.
Following the encounter, police teams have launched extensive search operations at multiple locations to arrest the absconding accused. Authorities stated that the entire criminal network linked to the murder is being thoroughly investigated.