In a rapid response to the shooting of an NRI in Amritsar a day before, Punjab Police on Sunday arrested five individuals, including the father of the victim’s first wife. The shocking incident, which took place on Saturday, saw Sukhchain Singh, recently returned from the United States, shot at his home in Daburji village. The attack has sent shockwaves through the community, with authorities working relentlessly to apprehend the remaining culprits.
The assailants, identified as Sukhwinder alias Sukha and Gurkirat Singh alias Guri, ambushed Sukhchain Singh as he was about to leave for a morning walk. They forcibly entered his home, firing three shots, two of which struck him in the head and chest. Although critically injured, Sukhchain Singh is now reported to be out of danger. The attackers, however, remain at large, and a manhunt is underway to ensure their capture. As per information available, the assailants’ pistols malfunctioned and they fled the scene.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Dhillon disclosed that the attack was orchestrated by the family of Sukhchain Singh’s first wife, who had committed suicide in December 2022. The family, holding a grudge against him, allegedly plotted this deadly act. Police have arrested Sarwan Singh, the father of the deceased wife, along with Jagjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh from Tarn Taran, who assisted the assailants before the crime. Hotel owner Digambar Attri and manager Abhilash Bhaskar were also arrested for providing accommodation to the criminals without verifying their identities.
Investigations revealed that the assailants had stayed at Attri’s hotel both before and after the attack, with the hotel staff failing to follow standard procedures. Additionally, three USA-based NRIs — Sukhchain’s brother-in-law Sukhwinder Singh, sister-in-law Kuljinder Kaur, and her husband Jasvir Singh — along with the mother-in-law, Nishan Kaur, have been implicated in the conspiracy and booked by the police.
The attack was carried out in the presence of Sukhchain Singh’s current wife, his mother, and his two children from his first marriage. Footage from CCTV cameras inside the home captured the horrifying scene, with the family pleading for mercy as the gunmen carried out the attack. This footage has become a key piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Dhillon said that both the suspects were identified and a manhunt was launched to nab them. One of the suspects had 10 criminal cases, including murder bid, theft, loot and NDPS cases. One suspect came out of Kapurthala jail on bail in February this year while his accomplice, who had a couple of NDPS cases against him, was released from the same jail in September last year.
Special Director General of Police RN Dhoke, overseeing Internal Security, visited Sukhchain Singh’s family to assure them of the authorities’ commitment to bringing all involved parties to justice. The case underscored the dire consequences of personal vendettas and highlights the need for stringent security measures to prevent such tragedies.
As the hunt for the main shooters continues, Punjab Police are determined to deliver justice and bring some semblance of peace to Sukhchain Singh’s grieving family.
