Punjab Police denies fake uniform advisory after ASI Harjit Singh killing
Synopsis
Punjab Police shut down a viral fake advisory claiming officers were told to avoid uniforms during commutes — a fabrication tied to the killing of ASI Harjit Singh on 18 September. With one accused dead in an encounter and another still at large, police say the attack was ordered by Pakistan-based handlers who recruited youth through drug money and demanded video proof of the killing.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police on 22 September denied issuing any advisory asking personnel to avoid wearing uniform while commuting, calling circulating messages fake.
ASI Harjit Singh was killed on duty on 18 September , triggering a high alert across Amritsar and adjoining border areas.
One accused was killed in a police encounter on 19 September ; his accomplice escaped under the cover of darkness.
Punjab Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill stated the killing was part of a conspiracy involving Pakistan-based handlers who lured youths with drug money.
The accused allegedly recorded a 30–40 second video at the crime scene as proof for overseas handlers; the act was reportedly captured on CCTV .
The department urged citizens and police personnel to rely only on official channels for authentic information.
Punjab Police on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, officially denied issuing any advisory asking its personnel to avoid travelling in uniform while commuting between their homes and duty stations. The denial came in response to a fabricated notice that had been widely circulated on social media, purportedly issued by the Inspector General (IG), Border Range, in the wake of the killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harjit Singh.
The Fake Advisory and What It Claimed
The circulating notice falsely claimed that, in the interest of officer safety in districts along the Pakistan border, the IG, Border Range, had directed police personnel to avoid wearing uniform while going to or returning from duty, and to use civilian clothes during commutes. Punjab Police swiftly addressed the misinformation by posting a fact-check on X, clarifying that neither the Punjab Police Headquarters nor any other Punjab Police office had issued such a directive. The department urged citizens and personnel alike to rely only on official channels for authentic information.
Background: Killing of ASI Harjit Singh
ASI Harjit Singh was killed on duty on 18 September, triggering a high alert across Amritsar and adjoining areas. Police intensified checks at toll plazas and other key points as teams launched a manhunt for those responsible. According to officials, specific intelligence subsequently indicated that the suspects were still in the area and potentially seeking another target, prompting a further escalation of security measures.
Encounter and Pakistan Angle
One of the accused in the murder of ASI Harjit Singh was killed in a police encounter on 19 September. His accomplice, however, escaped under the cover of darkness, according to Punjab Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill. Commissioner Gill stated that the murder was part of a Pakistan-based conspiracy, in which handlers reportedly lured youths with promises of money and a share in the illegal drug trade. The handlers allegedly demanded proof of loyalty by targeting police personnel.
Investigators found that after shooting ASI Harjit Singh, the accused reportedly returned to the crime scene and recorded a 30–40 second video to send to their overseas handlers as confirmation that the task had been completed. The act was allegedly captured on CCTV, while forensic examination of the suspects' mobile phones is currently underway.
Commissioner's Appeal to Parents
Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill appealed to parents to closely monitor their children's activities and protect them from exploitation through social media, drugs, and criminal networks. The appeal underscores growing concerns about cross-border radicalisation networks using financial incentives to recruit young individuals within Punjab for targeted violence.
What Comes Next
With one accused still at large, security operations across the Amritsar border belt remain heightened. Authorities continue to investigate the full network of Pakistan-based handlers believed to have orchestrated the killing. The Punjab Police has also called on the public to report any suspicious activity through official channels rather than amplifying unverified social media messages.
Point of View
Likely with the goal of undermining public confidence in the force. The Pakistan-handlers angle, if verified, points to an increasingly low-cost recruitment model: offer drug trade profits, demand a killing as proof of loyalty, and use social media as both a recruitment pipeline and a propaganda channel. Whether Commissioner Gill's appeal to parents can disrupt that pipeline is questionable without a structural counter-radicalisation programme.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Punjab Police issue an advisory asking officers not to wear uniforms during commutes?
No. Punjab Police officially denied issuing any such advisory on 22 September, calling all circulating messages fake. The department clarified that neither the Punjab Police Headquarters nor any other Punjab Police office had issued a directive on civilian clothing during commutes.
Who was ASI Harjit Singh and what happened to him?
ASI Harjit Singh was a Punjab Police officer who was killed while performing his duty on 18 September. His killing prompted a high alert across Amritsar and adjoining districts, with police intensifying checks and launching a manhunt for the suspects.
What happened to the accused in the ASI Harjit Singh murder case?
One of the accused was killed in a police encounter on 19 September. His accomplice managed to escape under the cover of darkness, and a search for the second suspect is ongoing.
What is the alleged Pakistan connection in the ASI's killing?
According to Punjab Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill, the killing was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan-based handlers who allegedly lured youths with promises of money and a share in the illegal drug trade, demanding proof of loyalty by targeting police personnel.
Why did the fake advisory spread so widely on social media?
The fake advisory gained traction because it referenced the real killing of ASI Harjit Singh and invoked the genuine security context of border districts. Punjab Police has urged citizens to verify information only through official channels and avoid amplifying unconfirmed social media messages.
