Police faced tough challenges from ISI-backed terror modules

The year 2024 remained one of the most happening year for the holy city during which the Punjab Police faced tough challenges from the ISI-backed foreign based gangsters-turned-terrorists, including Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa Harike, Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Pashia, Manpreet Singh, aka Mann Ghanshampuria, Gurdev Jaisal, Gopi Nawanshehria and Jeevan Fauji, who were not only behind attacks on police establishments, but were also running extortion rackets leading to firing incidents and murders.

4 attacks on police establishments

• Amritsar witnessed four attacks on police establishments. Though the police remained in a denial mode, Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Punjab Police, confirmed these attacks.
• An IED attached with RDX was planted outside the Ajnala police station on November 23. However, it did not explode.
• A hand grenade was hurled at the closed building of Gurbaxnagar police post on November 29.
• A hand grenade was lobbed at the Majitha police station on December 4.
• Another bomb was hurled at the Islamabad police station on December 17.

The city also witnessed stepping up counter measures by the police against “ground workers” and operatives of foreign-based gangsters leading to encounters resulting in permanent elimination and injuries to notorious criminals not only in the city, but in the Amritsar rural belt too this year.

There was a record seizure of drugs smuggled from Pakistan through well-oiled trans-border smuggling network using drones in Amritsar district. In one of the biggest seizures in Punjab in the recent past, the Counter Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police here busted a cross-border smuggling racket by confiscating 105 kg of heroin, smuggled from Pakistan, along with six pistols, with arrest of two persons in the Baba Bakala area here in the October end.

Nevertheless, the incident that hogged the headlines during the year was the assassination bid at Punjab’s former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal who was undergoing ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) while working as “sewadars”. He was sitting on wheelchair at the entrance gate of the Golden Temple on December 4 when the incident happened. He narrowly escaped the attempt because of the prompt and timely action by police personnel deputed in the civvies around him. Khalistan sympathiser Narayan Singh Chaura, who had shot at Sukhbir, was arrested by the police on the spot.

Another incident that put the police on their toes was attempt to murder of USA-based NRI Sukhchain Singh by two armed assailants at his house in the Dabourji area on August 24. The CCTV grab in which the victim’s son was seen pleading shooters not to kill his father went viral on social media within hours. The incident later turned out to be an outcome of personal enmity. Though the victim had suffered two bullet injuries, yet he survived.

In another incident, a commission agent Gurdeep Singh, alias Gokha, was shot dead by three armed assailants at Sathiala village on October 23. A gang rivalry between gangster Satta Nausheshra of Tarn Taran and Balwinder Singh Donny was the reason behind the broad daylight murder of Gokha. The victim was a friend of Donny.

Earlier in April, a man killed three members of his family, including mother, younger sister-in-law and nephew, at Kandowali village in the Jhander area. The holy city was shaken by a number of gruesome murders.

Despite tall claims by the police, unabated instances of snatchings, robberies and firings raised many questions over the deteriorating law and order situation. Repeated instances of gun violence did not do any good for restoring people’s faith in the law enforcement agencies. Petty crimes, including burglaries, vehicle thefts and snatchings, remained an order of the day leaving a fear of insecurity among residents.

There has been a spurt in incidents of extortions. Traders apart of prominent doctors running private hospitals and commission agents remained the prime target of foreign-based gangsters who also through their operatives fired at residences of victims.

The Highs and lows

As compare to 2023, the seizure of heroin has jumped manifolds in the district. Last year, the city police confiscated 34kg heroin, while this year 127kg of contraband was recovered. Besides, the district witnessed significant jump in the seizure of other drugs, including opium, ganja, charas and narcotic powder. The police initiated a cracked down on organised crime apart from busting a number of cross-border drug cartels leading to the arrest of over 700 drug peddlers this year. The police started operation Sampark to enhance police-public coordination in nailing criminals. The police also ensured that the three elections, including polls for the Lok Sabha, panchayat and Municipal Corporation, were held successfully and peacefully. But, the instances of snatchings, robberies and firings continue unabated in the district.