In a significant development in Amritsar NRI shooting case, Punjab Police on Monday apprehended three more accused linked to the violent attack on Sukhchain Singh, an NRI who was shot at inside his home on Saturday just days after returning from the United States. The arrests were made in a joint operation conducted by the district police forces of Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, marking a critical breakthrough in the ongoing investigation.
The three men were arrested from a ‘dharmashala’ (inn) located in the bustling Gaushala Bazar area of Hoshiarpur, where they were hiding after the crime. Among those arrested are Sukhwinder alias Sukha and Gurkirat Singh alias Guri, both of whom were hired to carry out the assassination of Sukhchain Singh, according to earlier statements by the Amritsar Police. The third accused was apprehended in Subhanpur, Kapurthala district. All three are believed to be key players in the attack, which has shocked the community and sparked a widespread manhunt.
Hoshiarpur Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Sarbjit Singh Bahia revealed that the operation was launched after a tip-off regarding the presence of the suspects in the Gaushala Bazar area. Acting swiftly, the police transformed the busy marketplace into a fortified zone, ensuring that the suspects could not escape. The arrested individuals were taken into custody after a thorough raid on the dharmashala where they had been staying under false pretenses. The police recovered crucial evidence from the scene and conducted extensive questioning before transferring the accused to Amritsar for further interrogation.
The case took a grim turn on Saturday when Sukhchain Singh was brutally attacked inside his house in Daburji village. The assailants intercepted him as he was about to leave for a morning walk, forcing their way into his home and opening fire. Three shots were fired, two of which struck Sukhchain — one in the head and another near the chest. Despite the severity of the attack, Sukhchain Singh survived and is currently receiving treatment, with his condition reported as stable.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Dhillon confirmed that the attack was orchestrated by the family of Sukhchain’s first wife, who had committed suicide in December 2022. The family harboured a deep grudge against him, which ultimately culminated in the violent attack. Surveillance footage retrieved from the CCTV cameras inside the victim’s house revealed harrowing scenes of Sukhchain’s wife, mother, and children pleading with the assailants to spare his life.
In the days following the attack, the police arrested five individuals, including Sarwan Singh, the father of Sukhchain’s deceased first wife, in connection with the crime. The arrests were made based on evidence that pointed to the involvement of the deceased wife’s family in plotting the attack. It has since come to light that the plan to eliminate Sukhchain was hatched in the United States by members of his late wife’s family, who are residing there. They allegedly transferred funds to the hired assassins, Sukhwinder and Gurkirat, to carry out the deed.
