Punjab Police advises personnel to avoid uniform while commuting after ASI killing in Amritsar
Synopsis
After ASI Harjit Singh was shot dead in Amritsar — reportedly on orders from Pakistan-based handlers who demanded a video as proof — Punjab Police has told officers along the border to ditch their uniforms while commuting and conceal their identities during private travel. One accused was killed in an encounter; a second remains at large.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police issued a security advisory on 22 September 2026 directing personnel to avoid wearing uniforms while commuting.
The advisory targets officers in border districts: Amritsar Rural , Batala , Gurdaspur , and Pathankot .
ASI Harjit Singh was killed on duty in Amritsar on 18 September in what police say was a Pakistan-backed conspiracy .
One accused was killed in a police encounter on 19 September ; an accomplice is still at large.
The accused allegedly filmed a 30–40 second video at the crime scene to send to overseas handlers as proof.
Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill has appealed to parents to protect youth from being recruited via social media and drug networks.
Punjab Police issued a security advisory on 22 September 2026 directing all police personnel to refrain from travelling in uniform while commuting to and from their places of duty, following the targeted killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harjit Singh in Amritsar on 18 September. The directive, issued by the Inspector General (IG), Border Range, is specifically aimed at safeguarding officers posted in districts along the Pakistan border.
What the Advisory Directs
The IG Border Range has written to the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of Amritsar Rural, Batala, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot, instructing them to implement enhanced security measures for police personnel during private travel. Officers have been specifically told to wear plain clothes while commuting between home and duty stations.
The advisory further states that police personnel must neither carry nor display any sign, symbol, or item that could reveal their identity as members of the force during personal travel. Strict adherence to all prescribed security protocols has been emphasised, with officers urged to remain particularly cautious about their identity and personal safety at all times.
The Killing That Triggered the Alert
ASI Harjit Singh was killed while on duty on 18 September in Amritsar. Following the incident, a high alert was sounded across Amritsar and adjoining districts, with police intensifying checks at toll plazas and other key locations. Police teams received specific intelligence suggesting the suspects were still in the area and potentially looking for another target.
One of the accused in ASI Harjit Singh's murder was killed in a police encounter on 19 September. However, an accomplice reportedly escaped under the cover of darkness.
Pakistan-Based Handlers and the Conspiracy
Punjab Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill stated that the murder was part of a wider conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan-based handlers. According to Commissioner Gill, the accused were lured with promises of money and a share in the illegal drug trade, with handlers demanding proof of loyalty through the targeting of police personnel.
Investigators found that after shooting ASI Harjit Singh, the accused allegedly returned to the crime scene and recorded a 30–40 second video to send to their overseas handlers as proof of the act. The incident was reportedly captured on CCTV, and forensic examination of mobile phones is currently underway.
Commissioner's Appeal to Parents
Commissioner Gill appealed to parents to closely monitor their children's activities and guard them against exploitation through social media, drugs, and criminal networks. The appeal reflects growing concern about the radicalisation and recruitment of local youth by cross-border criminal networks.
Broader Security Context
The advisory comes amid heightened security concerns in Punjab's border districts, where the nexus between Pakistan-based handlers, the illegal drug trade, and targeted violence against security forces has drawn significant attention. This is not the first time Punjab Police has been compelled to issue such protective directives — the state has seen a pattern of targeted attacks on security personnel linked to cross-border networks in recent years. The encounter killing of one accused and the ongoing hunt for the accomplice signal that the threat has not yet been fully neutralised.
Point of View
Incentivised pipeline of violence rather than isolated criminal acts. The drug-loyalty nexus Commissioner Gill described — where youth are drawn in through narcotics and then leveraged to commit targeted killings — is a structural problem that a plain-clothes directive alone cannot solve. Punjab has been here before, and the recurring pattern demands a counter-radicalisation response at least as robust as the security one.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Punjab Police asked personnel to avoid wearing uniforms while commuting?
Punjab Police issued the advisory following the targeted killing of ASI Harjit Singh in Amritsar on 18 September 2026, with investigators linking the murder to a Pakistan-based conspiracy. Officers in border districts have been told to wear plain clothes and conceal their identity during private travel to reduce the risk of being targeted.
Who was ASI Harjit Singh and how was he killed?
ASI Harjit Singh was a Punjab Police officer who was shot dead while on duty in Amritsar on 18 September 2026. Police say the killing was orchestrated by Pakistan-based handlers who lured local youth with money and a share in the drug trade, demanding a targeted attack on a police officer as proof of loyalty.
What happened to the accused in ASI Harjit Singh's killing?
One of the accused was killed in a police encounter on 19 September 2026, a day after the murder. His accomplice managed to escape under the cover of darkness and remains at large, with security teams continuing the search.
Which police districts does the security advisory cover?
The advisory, issued by the Inspector General, Border Range, covers four border districts: Amritsar Rural, Batala, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot. It was sent directly to the Senior Superintendents of Police of each district for implementation.
What role did Pakistan-based handlers play in the ASI's killing?
According to Punjab Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill, the murder was part of a conspiracy directed by Pakistan-based handlers who recruited local youth through promises of money and access to the illegal drug trade. The accused allegedly filmed a 30–40 second video at the crime scene after the killing to send to the handlers as proof of the completed task.
