Back from US, NRI shot at by 2 assailants in Amritsar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 24

An NRI, identified as Sukhchain Singh, was shot at by two assailants in the presence of his family at his residence in the Daburji area here today.

The victim, who had returned from the US recently, suffered two bullet injuries — one in the jaw and the other in the arm. He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital and his condition is stated to be serious. The police recovered three bullet shells from the spot.

The incident was captured in the CCTV cameras installed at the house. The CCTV footage, which went viral on social medial, showed a heart-rending scene as the mother and son of the victim were seen pleading before the shooters with folded hands, begging them to let him go. The police took the CCTV footage and started a probe.

Paramjit Singh, a relative of the victim, said the incident occurred at around 7am, when the assailants barged into the house, brandishing a gun.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Harpal Singh said the police was working on different theories, including a possible family dispute. He said the two accused entered the house and asked Sukhchain about the papers of his Mercedes car. The duo entered an argument with him, dragged him to the lobby of his house and shot him there. After a few shots, the assailants’ gun got jammed and they fled the spot.

Singh said Sukhchain’s first wife had died by suicide in 2022. Following a complaint by her family, the police had booked Sukhchain, his brother and mother in the case. Sukhchain and his brother were acquitted by the court while a chargesheet was filed against their mother. He said the dispute with his first wife’s family has not been resolved. “They tried to kill him. But as their weapons got stuck, they fled, leaving him critically wounded,” the ADCP said. He said the police did not have any information that an extortion bid could have been the cause of the attack on Sukhchain.

The incident has led to widespread condemnation of the state government over the “deteriorating” law and order situation in Punjab. SAD chief and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann should resign on moral grounds. He said that he was pained to see the dismal law and order situation in Punjab. “The people of Punjab are not safe even in their houses. Such incidents are happening regularly in the state,” he said.

Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO visited the private hospital where the victim was admitted. He said the police was close to cracking the case and that nobody would be allowed to take law into their hands. He said every resident has the right to live peacefully and those who took law in their hands would be put behind bars.

First wife’s relatives booked

• Commissioner of Police Ranjit Singh Dhillon, who also visited the spot, said that on the complaint of the victim’s mother, the police had booked five persons, who are family members and relatives of his first wife. Further probe was on
• Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal said preliminary investigations by the police suggested that a personal dispute had led to the incident. He added that the incident should not be treated as a law and order problem

Accused identified

• RN Dhoke, Special DGP (internal security), said both accused had been identified and a manhunt launched to arrest them. One of the suspects belonged to Kapurthala and the other was from Jalandhar
• However, he did not reveal the names of the two as it could hamper probe and delay their arrest. He said one suspect was facing 10 criminal cases
• The police have issued a look-out circular for both suspects so that they are unable to flee the country, Dhoke added