Chandigarh, February 23 A day after two police personnel were found shot dead at a checkpoint in Gurdaspur near the Indo-Pak border, a Pakistan-based gangster posted a purported video on social media showing an unidentified shooter firing at one of the cops at close range.
The same unverified video, posted by gangster Shahzad Bhatti, was also shared by an outfit calling itself Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan, which had claimed responsibility for the killings on Sunday.
The Punjab police remained tight-lipped on the claims, with a senior police officer saying that they are investigating all angles.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who has come under fresh attack from the opposition over the incident, said on Monday that the investigation was underway and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore each for the families of the two police personnel.
In the unverified video, the shooter holding a weapon could be seen shooting Assistant Sub-Inspector Gurnam Singh.
The bodies of ASI Singh and Home Guard Ashok Kumar, who were posted at Adhian, about 2 km from the international border, were found inside the checkpoint on Sunday.
In a post on X, CM Mann said, "Salute to the bravery and supreme sacrifice of martyrs ASI Gurnam Singh and PHG Ashok Kumar, who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
"The Punjab government will provide an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore each to their families, while the HDFC Bank will provide an additional insurance amount of Rs 1 crore each."
"We stand strongly with our martyrs and their families. Their sacrifice inspires us all to perform our duties with honour and courage," the chief minister added.
A forensic team visited the spot on Monday, a police officer said.
The killings came to light when the sarpanch of Adhian village, Kamaljeet Singh, visited the checkpoint after being informed by the Dorangla SHO that both policemen were not answering their calls.
The sarpanch, who reached the checkpoint at about 8:15 am, found both the ASI and the home guard dead with gunshot injuries.
While the ASI's body was found on a chair with his hands in his pockets, the home guard was lying dead on a cot, police said.
The area where the bodies were found is prone to smuggling of heroin and weapons using drones from across the border.
After the incident was reported, posters allegedly issued by an outfit calling itself Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH) circulated on social media, claiming responsibility for the killings.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Ashok Kumar were consigned to flames at village Kailashpur in Gurdaspur district with full state honours.
Senior officers, including Special Director General of Police Naresh Arora, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sandeep Goel, and Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police Aditya, were present at the cremation.
Special DGP Arora said it was an unfortunate incident and the entire police department stands by the family of the deceased.
The Congress had on Sunday demanded a central probe into the incident.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday slammed the AAP government in Punjab, claiming no one is safe under its rule.
In a post on X, Badal said, "Bhagwant Mann must go, NOW. This chief minister is presiding over the complete breakdown of law and order as the home minister."
"The killing of two police personnel, ASI Gurnam Singh and Home Guard Ashok Kumar, for which the new terror outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan has claimed responsibility, has sent a clear signal: No one is safe in Punjab.
"After terrorising trade, industry, and the common man, gangsters and terror outfits are now directly challenging the police force. This is not governance, it's surrender," he alleged.