Man killed in stray firing by drug peddlers in Tarn Taran village

A man, identified as Gurjit Singh (35), a resident of Rasulpur village in Tarn Taran, was killed in firing by drug peddlers in the border village of Neshta on late Wednesday evening. The incident occurred when a team of the Gharinda police was chasing two smugglers.

According to the police, the victim had come to meet some relatives at the village. He happened to pass the spot when the incident took place.

Nevertheless, the police recovered 5 kg of heroin from the crime scene which the accused had dropped while running away from the spot.

Confirming the incident, Amandeep Singh, SHO, Gharinda police station, said the police got a tip-off on the movement of two drug peddlers riding a motorcycle. They were going towards Amritsar for further distribution.

The police signalled the bike-borne two persons to stop near a checkpoint at Neshta village. But the duo tried to flee the scene after taking a U-turn.

“The police signalled them to stop, but they took a U-turn while the pillion rider ran towards a field to save himself. The biker sped away from the spot and the police teams chased the absconding smuggler who was having a packet allegedly containing drugs,” said Amandeep Singh. He said the police challenged the suspect who was running in the field and asked him to surrender, but he suddenly threw away the bag containing drugs, took out a pistol and fired at the police party.

The cops escaped unhurt while the bullet hit a passerby who was later identified as Gurjit Singh, alias Billa. The police teams immediately rushed him to hospital where he succumbed.

He said a case has been registered and raids were on to arrest the narco traffickers.