An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Punjab Police, Surinder Singh (53) of Kuka village in Kapurthala district, on Saturday evening was mowed down by three car-borne snatchers when the vehicle they were travelling in was signalled to stop at a check post. Constable Harpal Singh, who was accompanying the ASI, sustained serious injuries in the incident.
The incident occurred at Subhanpur Chowk, when the snatchers were signalled to stop the vehicle by the ASI. The makeshift check post was put in place after the ASI received an alert following two snatchings at Nadala in Begowal town of the district.
The accused were fleeing reportedly after snatching the purses of two women in a Hyundai i20 car when ASI Surinder Singh confronted them.
After getting the news of the ASI being crushed to death, a police team led by Subhanpur station house officer Sukhpal Singh and Nadala police post in-charge Davinder Singh launched a manhunt and nabbed the accused from Nurpur village in Subhanpur.
The accused have been identified as Gurpreet Singh Gopi, Vijay Pal and Gurpal Singh, all residents of the Tarn Taran district. The police have also recovered the car used in the crime. Some sharp-edged weapons were also found in the vehicle.
Senior superintendent of police Rajinder Singh also visted the spot. He said Surinder showed exemplary courage and laid down his life in the line of duty. The injured constable is undergoing treatment at the civil hospital.
{{/usCountry}}Senior superintendent of police Rajinder Singh also visted the spot. He said Surinder showed exemplary courage and laid down his life in the line of duty. The injured constable is undergoing treatment at the civil hospital.
{{/usCountry}}The accused have been booked under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 379-B (snatching), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC by the Subhanpur police.
ASI Surinder Singh is survived by wife Simranjeet Kaur, two sons and a daughter. His sons are in Australia and daughter is in Italy, it is learnt.
Not first incident
Last month, two wanted criminals rammed a tractor-trolley into Begowal station house officer (SHO) when he intercepted the duo at a checkpoint in Takhra village. The police said SHO Parminder Singh sustained serious injuries, including a fracture in his right shoulder, and underwent a surgery at a private hospital in Jalandhar.
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