2 drunk Punjab ASIs, cop deployed in CM security shoot dead woman excise inspector's relative in road rage

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Batala, August 31

The Batala police have arrested six persons, including two ASIs and a policeman deployed with the CM security, for allegedly killing the relative of a woman excise inspector following a road rage brawl in Bhagwanpurai village late on Sunday.

SSP Rachpal Singh, accompanied by senior officers, reached the spot and ordered the arrest of the accused after conducting a preliminary inquiry.

Those nabbed have been identified as ASIs Ranjit Singh and Baljit Singh, both posted with the Amritsar city traffic staff, Head Constables Avtar Singh and Balkar Singh, both doing duty as gunmen with ADGP (retd) Parampal Singh Sidhu, Surinder Singh, a policeman deployed with CM security, and Simrat Singh.

The accused were travelling in two cars and wanted to overtake the car of Amarpreet Kaur, an excise inspector. However, sources say, she did not give way to the cops because of the narrow road. After a 15-minute chase, Kaur swerved her car into a narrow alley of her native village of Bhagwanpur.

The irate cops managed to stop her vehicle and the moment they did so, they started damaging it. She called her brother-in-law Gurmej Singh (husband’s brother). Her father-in-law Amrik Singh is a former SAD sarpanch.

In the ensuing altercation, one of the cops shot dead Gurmej Singh (28). The cops were surrounded by nearly 25 boys who were playing kabaddi under lights nearby. Gurmej himself was a kabaddi player.

The SSP said a case under IPC Section 302 has been registered at Kotli Surat Malhi police station.

A senior officer claimed the accused indulged in eve-teasing before they shot dead Gurmej.

“Despite the fact that Amarpreet Kaur had disclosed her identity, the policemen started passing lewd remarks against her. This infuriated her following which she rang up Gurmej. However, the accused, who were heavily drunk, refused to listen to him and instead one of them took out his service revolver and gunned down Gurmej from point-blank range,” he added.

The officer refused to reveal who was the policeman who actually shot the deceased.

“We are still investigating and will reveal more details soon,” said the SSP.