“Who Will Protect Those Protecting Punjab?”: Bajwa After ASI Harjit Singh’s Killing

September 18, 2026

Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Friday condemned the killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harjit Singh, who was shot dead while on PCR duty near Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar, and questioned the state’s law-and-order and security arrangements.

According to police reports, Harjit Singh was on PCR duty when two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire on him at close range at around 3 am. He sustained multiple bullet injuries and was taken to a private hospital, where he was declared dead.

“ASI Harjit Singh has sacrificed his life while performing his duty. His family has lost a loved one, and Punjab has lost a brave police officer. But this is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing pattern of attacks on those who are responsible for protecting the people of Punjab,” Bajwa said.

Bajwa Cites Earlier Attacks on Punjab Police Personnel

Bajwa highlighted the killing of police personnel in earlier incidents this year.

On February 22, ASI Gurnam Singh and Home Guard jawan Ashok Kumar were found shot dead inside a police outpost at Adhian in Gurdaspur district, in a sensitive area near the India-Pakistan border. Both were on duty at the time.

“In February, two policemen were murdered inside a police outpost in Gurdaspur, barely a few kilometres from the international border. This was an attack on the state’s security apparatus on its own turf,” Bajwa said.

Later, on May 24, ASI Joga Singh was shot dead near Majitha while travelling towards duty. Police said two motorcycle-borne attackers intercepted him on the Fatehgarh Churian-Majitha road and opened fire.

“In May, ASI Joga Singh was killed while travelling to his place of duty. Now, in September, ASI Harjit Singh has been shot dead while actually performing PCR duty. Within months, Punjab has seen repeated attacks on serving police personnel. How many more policemen must lose their lives before Bhagwant Mann accepts that the situation demands urgent action?” Bajwa asked.

Bajwa Questions Security in Punjab’s Border Belt

Bajwa said the incidents were particularly concerning because several occurred in Punjab’s sensitive border districts, where policing, intelligence, counter-terrorism and border-security concerns intersect.

“This cannot be reduced to another round of political blame game. The Punjab Government has responsibility for law and order and policing, while the Union Government has important responsibilities relating to national security and the border. AAP Punjab and the BJP-led Centre must work together and must answer for the security environment in Punjab’s border belt,” Bajwa said.

He also questioned what he described as the BJP’s silence over the repeated attacks.

“Where is the BJP? Where is the BJP-led Centre when police personnel are being targeted in Punjab’s border districts? The AAP government cannot simply blame the Centre, and the BJP cannot simply blame the Punjab Government. Both have responsibilities, and both must explain what concrete steps are being taken to protect Punjab’s police personnel and strengthen security in the border belt,” he said.

Bajwa Demands Swift Probe Into ASI Killing

Bajwa said the government must move beyond compensation and statements of condolence.

“Bhagwant Mann, stop the tomfoolery and start behaving as the Chief Minister of Punjab. For God’s sake, do your job or quit. Compensation after a policeman is killed is not a substitute for preventing these attacks. The government must ensure that every police officer who leaves home for duty can return safely to his family,” Bajwa said.

He also demanded that the investigation into Harjit Singh’s killing be conducted swiftly and transparently and that those responsible be brought to justice.

“Our police personnel confront criminals, smugglers and threats to the state while carrying out their duty. The least they deserve is a government that takes their security seriously. Punjab cannot afford to normalise the killing of its police personnel,” Bajwa said.

“The government must answer a simple question: who will protect those protecting Punjab?” he said.