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Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter, aide escapes, say Amristar police

The Amritsar police alleged that the type of firearms recovered suggested the accused were using “newly refurbished” weapons, which were likely facilitated through Pakistan-based networks.

3 min readAmritsarUpdated: Nov 20, 2025 03:15 PM IST

The operation was led by DCP (Detective) Ravinderpal Singh, ADCP (Detective) Jagbinder Singh, ACP (Detective) Harminder Singh Sandhu and SI Balwinder Singh, in-charge of CIA Staff-3 (Express Photo)

The Amritsar Police on Thursday claimed that it foiled a targeted killing bid and killed a “notorious gangster” said to be linked to Pakistan-based handlers, following an exchange of fire.

According to the police, the deceased, identified as Harjinder Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, was gunned down “in self-defence” after he and his accomplice allegedly opened fire at a police checkpoint under the jurisdiction of Chheharta station on Wednesday night, despite issuing them warnings.

Singh, who was seriously injured, was rushed to the hospital, where he later died during treatment, the police said, adding that a search is on to nab his accomplice, identified as Sunny, a resident of the Attari area, who had fled the scene.

The police said that Singh, a “frequent jail visitor” who was released on November 7, had “recently been involved” in planning a targeted killing before Wednesday’s encounter.

Officers said that a team set up a checkpoint after receiving information that Harjinder Singh and an unidentified accomplice were roaming on a motorcycle with the intent to carry out the alleged hit.

According to the police, when the police team signalled the motorcycle to stop, the two men allegedly turned the vehicle around and opened fire at the police party. The officials claimed they initially fired in the air, but the duo “continued to fire indiscriminately”, with one of the bullets allegedly hitting a police vehicle.

Investigators claimed that an initial examination of Harjinder Singh’s mobile phone led them to virtual foreign numbers, allegedly indicating active communication with Pakistan-based ISI handlers and foreign gangsters.

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The police have reportedly recovered one Glock pistol (with three empty cartridges and four live rounds in its magazine), one .30-bore pistol (with one empty cartridge and one live round), and a motorcycle allegedly used by the accused.

They alleged that the type of firearms recovered suggested the accused were using “newly refurbished” weapons, which they claimed were likely facilitated through Pakistan-based networks.

The police claimed that they registered a case on November 19 under Section 25(8) of the Arms Act at Chheharta police station in Amritsar, acting on specific intelligence inputs about a planned targeted killing.

Following the encounter, they registered a second case — FIR No. 235 on Thursday, under Sections 109, 132, 221, 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 25 of the Arms Act.

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The operation was led by Ravinderpal Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detective), and the team comprised Jagbinder Singh, ADCP (Detective), Harminder Singh Sandhu, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Detective), among others.

The police said that further investigation is underway to verify the alleged foreign links, the origin of the weapons, and the broader network behind the purported targeted killing plot.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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