19-year-old Deepak Singh dies after alleged exchange of fire with police in Amritsar; second suspect escapes as investigators examine possible cross-border conspiracy
Amritsar, September 20, 2026:
One of the two accused in the killing of Punjab Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjit Singh was killed in an encounter with police in Amritsar, while the second suspect managed to escape and remains the subject of a search operation.
The deceased accused was identified by police as 19-year-old Deepak Singh, a resident of Mulchak village in Amritsar. Police said the encounter followed an operation to trace the suspects involved in the September 18 killing of ASI Harjit Singh, who was on PCR duty when he was shot in the Bhagtanwala grain market area.
Police Say Suspects Opened Fire
According to the police account, a team intercepted two suspects travelling on a scooter at a checkpoint at around 9:45 pm on September 19.
Police said the suspects opened fire when signalled to stop, firing four rounds. The police team then returned fire in self-defence, according to officers quoted in media reports.
Deepak Singh sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The second suspect reportedly fled from the scene under cover of darkness. Police teams have launched a search operation to locate and arrest him.
Weapon, Ammunition and Scooter Recovered
Police said the operation resulted in the recovery of a .30-bore pistol, two magazines containing eight live cartridges, a mobile phone and a Honda Activa scooter allegedly used in the crime.
Investigators had earlier used CCTV footage, technical inputs, tower-dump analysis, local intelligence and information from human sources to identify and track the suspects, according to police.
The recoveries are now expected to form part of the ongoing investigation into the killing of ASI Harjit Singh.
Possible Pakistan-Based Terror Connection Under Investigation
Investigators are also examining a possible Pakistan-based terror connection in the case.
According to information emerging from the investigation and reported by multiple outlets, police are probing whether a Pakistan-based terrorist allegedly offered money to the accused to carry out the attack.
Some reports have also linked Deepak Singh to a Pakistan-based operative and a wider terror-gangster network. These links remain under investigation and have not been independently established in court.
The alleged financial inducement is therefore being treated as an investigative lead rather than an established fact.
ASI Harjit Singh Was Killed While on PCR Duty
ASI Harjit Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district, was on PCR duty when two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly targeted him near the Bhagtanwala grain market in Amritsar during the intervening night of September 18 and 19.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had said that the officer was shot from close range, with the bullet striking him from behind near the neck area.
A .30-bore empty cartridge case was recovered from the crime scene, according to police.
The killing prompted a rapid investigation, with police examining surveillance footage and technical evidence to identify the attackers.
Manhunt Continues for Second Accused
With Deepak Singh dead and the second suspect still at large, police have intensified efforts to trace the remaining accused.
Teams are conducting searches and raids in an effort to locate him. Investigators are also expected to examine the recovered mobile phone, firearm and other evidence for information about the alleged planning, communications and possible handlers behind the attack.
The investigation will also determine whether the murder was solely a targeted criminal attack or part of a broader network involving organised crime, narcotics or cross-border terror activity.
Key Takeaways
- Deepak Singh, 19, one of the accused in the ASI Harjit Singh murder case, was killed in a police encounter.
- Police said the suspects opened fire at a checkpoint, prompting retaliatory firing.
- The second accused escaped and remains the subject of a manhunt.
- Police recovered a .30-bore pistol, two magazines, eight live cartridges, a mobile phone and an Activa scooter.
- Investigators are probing a possible Pakistan-based terror connection.
- Claims that a Pakistan-based terrorist offered money for the attack remain part of the investigation.
- CCTV, technical evidence, tower-dump analysis and local intelligence reportedly helped police track the suspects.
The encounter marks a major development in the investigation into ASI Harjit Singh’s killing, but the probe remains active, particularly regarding the second accused and the alleged cross-border links. Authorities are expected to establish the full chain of planning, financing and execution as the investigation progresses.