Punjab Police officer, gunman killed as SUVs collide near Samrala in Ludhiana

Collision happened as one side of the Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway was blocked by protesting farmers near Dyalpura bypass around midnight

An assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Sandeep Singh, 34, and his gunman, Paramjot Singh, 35, were killed when their sports utility vehicle collided with another SUV near Samrala in Ludhiana district late on Friday night.

The sports utility vehicle of assistant commissioner of police Sandeep Singh, which caught fire, after colliding with another SUV at Dyalpura bypass near Samrala town of Ludhiana district on Saturday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

The collision occurred around midnight when one side of the four-lane Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway was blocked by protesting farmers. There was no sign indicating that the stretch had turned into a two-way stretch due to the 24x7 blockade near Mushkabad village.

Sandeep Singh was posted as ACP (East) in the Ludhiana police commissionerate. (HT file photo)

Sandeep Singh, who was posted as ACP (East) in the Ludhiana police commissionerate, was returning from Chandigarh with his gunman and driver Gurpreet Singh in the Toyota Fortuner.

The driver was rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana with multiple injuries. His condition is stable.

Sub inspector Rao Varinder Singh, the station house officer at Samrala, said: “Eye-witnesses informed the police and called the fire brigade.”

The mangled remains of the Scorpio. It’s driver is absconding. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

He said a search is on for the absconding driver and occupants of the Mahindra Scorpio.

The farmers have blocked one side of the highway to protest against the setting up of a biogas plant at Mushkabad village.

Gunman Paramjot Singh was from Ferozepur. (HT Photo)

ACP Sandeep Singh belonged to Bathinda and had been living in Chandigarh. His gunman, Paramjot Singh, was from Ferozepur.