Third Suspect Arrested in Gurdaspur Policemen Murder Case
In a significant development, police in Gurdaspur district have arrested a third suspect in connection with the brutal murder of two policemen that occurred on February 20 near the Pakistan border. The arrest was made from Amritsar on Friday, coming just two days after one of the accused was shot dead in an encounter and another was taken into custody.
Police Confirm Arrest Amidst Ongoing Investigation
Gurdaspur SSP Aditya confirmed the arrest but chose to withhold the identity of the suspect, citing operational security. He also refrained from providing updates on the manhunt for Inderjit Singh, a 21-year-old alleged ISI-linked recruiter and handler who remains absconding. "We are working on it," the SSP stated, indicating that efforts to apprehend Inderjit are ongoing.
Details of the Murder and Accused
The case involves the murder of ASI Gurnam Singh and home guard jawan Ashok Kumar at a police outpost located barely 1 kilometer from the Pakistan border in Adhian village. Inderjit Singh is alleged to have recruited two teenagers, Ranjit Singh, 19, of Adhian village and Dilawar Singh, 19, of Ali Nangal village, to carry out the killings. Dilawar Singh is already in police custody, while Ranjit Singh was gunned down early Wednesday during a weapon recovery operation in Gurdaspur district. Police claim he was shot when he attempted to escape.
Family Protests and Political Intervention
Ranjit Singh's family has announced a protest scheduled for March 1 at the Babri bypass in Gurdaspur, demanding that police produce evidence to substantiate allegations linking him to the murders. Partap Singh Bajwa, the leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, visited the family in Adhian and urged the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo motu cognisance and order a CBI inquiry into the encounter and allegations of destruction of digital video recorders (DVRs). "The family has made serious allegations, yet the government has issued no clarification. Punjabis deserve to know the truth, and all those who lost their lives deserve justice," he said, advocating for a transparent and impartial probe.
Social Media Video and Family Skepticism
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media shows a masked Sikh youth, believed to be Dilawar Singh, telling mediapersons that Inderjit Singh and Ranjit Singh were allegedly involved in the killings. Dilbagh Singh, father of Dilawar Singh, dismissed the clip, stating, "Anyone can be made to say anything in police custody." He added that several political, social, and farmer organizations have reached out to the families, expressing solidarity and support in their pursuit of justice.
The case continues to unfold as authorities grapple with the complexities of the investigation amidst growing public scrutiny and demands for accountability.
