Punjab cop shot dead in Amritsar; BJP, Congress slam AAP on law and order
Synopsis
An on-duty Punjab Police ASI was shot dead near midnight in Amritsar’s Bhagtanwala grain market—the second attack on a serving officer in the city within a week. With BJP and Congress jointly slamming the AAP government’s handling of law and order, and CM Bhagwant Mann announcing ₹1 crore in compensation, political pressure on the Punjab administration is intensifying.
Key Takeaways
ASI Harjit Singh , posted at Gate Hakima, Amritsar , was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants around midnight on 18 September 2026 .
The attack occurred near the Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar while Singh was on PCR duty .
This is the second attack on an on-duty police officer in Amritsar within a week; ASI Jaswant Singh survived a similar attack on 11 September 2026 .
BJP and Congress leaders jointly alleged a collapse of law and order under the AAP government in Punjab.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condoled Singh’s death and announced ₹1 crore compensation for his family.
A Punjab Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) was shot dead while on duty in Amritsar late on 18 September 2026, triggering sharp political attacks from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (Congress), who alleged that law and order in Punjab has sharply deteriorated under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The Incident
According to officials, ASI Harjit Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district, was on PCR (Police Control Room) duty when two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants chased him and shot him at point-blank range around midnight near the Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar. Singh was posted at Gate Hakima in Amritsar at the time of the attack. The assailants fled the scene and have not been identified or apprehended, according to reports.
This comes just days after a similar attack on 11 September 2026, when another ASI, Jaswant Singh, was shot at by two motorcycle-borne men while returning from duty in Amritsar. A bullet grazed his head, causing a minor injury; he is currently recovering.
BJP Condemns AAP Government
BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said: “The law and order situation has been deteriorating since the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power. Extortion, demands for money and kidnappings have become common.”
BJP leader H.S. Phoolka went further, alleging: “The law and order situation in Punjab is extremely bad. It is so bad that gangsters and drug traffickers are ruling the state. There are extortion calls from everywhere.”
BJP Punjab Vice President Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon directly referenced the killing of ASI Harjit Singh, saying: “The law and order situation in Punjab is currently at its worst. People are being shot in broad daylight, and even police personnel are not being spared.” He appealed to the Punjab Police to intensify operations against anti-social elements.
Congress Also Trains Guns on AAP
Congress Punjab Vice President Rajkumar Verka alleged that the ruling government had completely failed its mandate. “I think this government’s law and order has completely collapsed. Thousands of murders are taking place, thousands of ransom demands are being made, and thousands of incidents are happening,” Verka said.
Notably, both BJP and Congress finding common ground in their criticism of the AAP administration reflects a broader political convergence on the law-and-order issue ahead of any potential electoral accountability in the state.
Government Response and Compensation
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condoled the death of ASI Harjit Singh and announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for his family. The state government has not yet issued a detailed statement on the recent pattern of attacks on police personnel in Amritsar.
A Troubling Pattern
The killing of ASI Harjit Singh is the second high-profile attack on an on-duty police officer in Amritsar within a single week, raising questions about the safety of law enforcement personnel on the ground. Critics argue this points to emboldened criminal networks operating in the region. Punjab has previously faced serious challenges related to organised crime, drug trafficking, and gang violence, issues that have persisted across successive governments but which the opposition now squarely places at AAP’s door. How the Mann government responds operationally—beyond condolences and compensation—will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
But it also risks reducing a serious policing failure to a partisan talking point. The real question is operational: why are armed motorcycle gangs able to execute targeted attacks on uniformed officers with apparent impunity? Compensation announcements are necessary but insufficient—without a visible operational crackdown and accountability from the top of the police chain, the political noise will only grow louder.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was ASI Harjit Singh and how was he killed?
ASI Harjit Singh was a Punjab Police officer, resident of Tarn Taran district, posted at Gate Hakima in Amritsar. He was shot dead at point-blank range by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants around midnight on 18 September 2026 near the Bhagtanwala grain market while on PCR duty.
What has the Punjab government said about the killing?
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condoled ASI Harjit Singh’s death and announced ₹1 crore compensation for his family. The state government has not yet issued a detailed operational response to the pattern of attacks on police officers in Amritsar.
Why are BJP and Congress criticising the AAP government over this incident?
Both parties allege that law and order in Punjab has deteriorated significantly since AAP came to power, citing rising extortion, gang violence, and killings. They argue that the murder of an on-duty ASI is evidence of the state government’s failure to protect even its own police personnel.
Was there a previous attack on a Punjab Police officer in Amritsar recently?
Yes. On 11 September 2026, ASI Jaswant Singh was shot at by two motorcycle-borne men while returning from duty in Amritsar. A bullet grazed his head and caused a minor injury; he is currently recovering. ASI Harjit Singh’s killing is the second such incident within a week.
Who are the suspects in ASI Harjit Singh’s murder?
According to officials, two unidentified motorcycle-borne men carried out the attack. As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made and the assailants’ identities remain unknown. Investigations are ongoing.
