A spate of targeted killings in broad daylight of persons under police protection over the past few months has stoked worries over the law and order situation in the State. The emergence of an alleged nexus between gangsters and radical groups in investigations into the criminal cases has given ammunition to the Opposition parties to target the Bhagwant Mann-led government
Over a dozen police personnel are busy guarding the palatial house of the Suris at Shivala colony in Punjab’s Amritsar on November 12 as a stream of visitors arrive to mourn the death of Sudhir Suri, 58, a leader of the Shiv Sena (Taksali), a right-wing outfit, who was shot dead in broad daylight under police protection on November 4.
Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri. | Photo Credit: PTI
A sense of insecurity is palpable among the mourners with Sudhir’s murder being the latest in a spate of targeted killings over the past few months, stoking worries over the law and order situation in the State. The emergence of an alleged nexus between gangsters and radical groups in investigations into the criminal cases has given ammunition to the Opposition parties — the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party — to target the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which formed the government after winning the Assembly election in March.
Shroud of fear hangs over Punjab
A spate of targeted killings in broad daylight of persons under police protection over the past few months has stoked worries over the law and order situation in the State. The emergence of an alleged nexus between gangsters and radical groups in investigations into the criminal cases has given ammunition to the Opposition parties to target the Bhagwant Mann-led government
November 18, 2022 02:37 am | Updated 02:37 am IST
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Crime and punishment: Punjab Police personnel guard the house of the brother of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri (below) at Shivala colony in Amritsar. | Photo Credit: Shiva Sharma
Over a dozen police personnel are busy guarding the palatial house of the Suris at Shivala colony in Punjab’s Amritsar on November 12 as a stream of visitors arrive to mourn the death of Sudhir Suri, 58, a leader of the Shiv Sena (Taksali), a right-wing outfit, who was shot dead in broad daylight under police protection on November 4.https://buy.tinypass.com/checkout/offer/show?displayMode=inline&containerSelector=%23articlediv1&templateId=OTLK6OBQ57SS&templateVariantId=OTVHVR9B29MUD&offerId=OFZVUXR8DKEH&formNameByTermId=%7B%7D&hideCompletedFields=true&showCloseButton=false&checkoutFlowId=CFSWNVRBHE96&experienceId=EX5UJ86N9FVG&activeMeters=%5B%7B%22meterName%22%3A%22TH_FIRST_ARTICLE%22%2C%22views%22%3A3%2C%22viewsLeft%22%3A7%2C%22maxViews%22%3A10%2C%22totalViews%22%3A3%7D%5D&widget=offer&iframeId=offer-0-2BqGE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehindu.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fshroud-of-fear-hangs-over-punjab%2Farticle66150766.ece&parentDualScreenLeft=0&parentDualScreenTop=0&parentWidth=534&parentHeight=766&parentOuterHeight=766&aid=DC3REpZYpu&zone=MobileWeb&pianoIdUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fid.tinypass.com%2Fid%2F&lang=en_US&userProvider=piano_id&userToken=&customCookies=%7B%7D&hasLoginRequiredCallback=true&initMode=context&width=534&_qh=a939f284ee
Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri. | Photo Credit: PTI
A sense of insecurity is palpable among the mourners with Sudhir’s murder being the latest in a spate of targeted killings over the past few months, stoking worries over the law and order situation in the State. The emergence of an alleged nexus between gangsters and radical groups in investigations into the criminal cases has given ammunition to the Opposition parties — the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party — to target the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which formed the government after winning the Assembly election in March.
Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri after he was shot at during a protest, in Amritsar, on November 4, 2022. According to the police, more than five shots were fired. He was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to bullet injuries. | Photo Credit: PTI
Amid the barrage of criticism, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has sought to defend his turf by taking measures to impose curbs on the gun culture in the State. “A few unfortunate incidents have occurred, but law and order is intact under the AAP government. The crime rate is extremely low in Punjab compared with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other States in the country, but we are still taking measures such as cracking down on gun culture and reviewing arms licences issued recklessly by the previous governments,” he says.
Sandeep Singh Sunny, who allegedly shot dead the politician while he was staging a protest outside a temple in the city on November 4, being produced before a local court. | Photo Credit: Shiva Sharma
‘Gangster-militant nexus’
Sudhir’s murder had rattled the State as he was being guarded by over a dozen police personnel under the ‘Y’ category security. Multiple bullets were fired at him from close range while he was staging a protest outside a temple in the city’s Gopal Nagar. He alleged that the temple’s management had disrespected idols and pictures of Hindu deities after some broken idols were purportedly found in the trash outside its premises. After the attack, he was rushed to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The police then arrested the alleged shooter, Sandeep Singh Sunny, 33, who ran a local garment shop, and seized a .32 bore licensed weapon from his possession.
Punjab Police personnel take accused Sandeep Singh, who allegedly shot Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri, to a court for questioning in Amritsar, on Nov. 5, 2022. | Photo Credit: PTI
Soon, videos of Sunny with Amritpal Singh, 29, the chief of the hard-line outfit Waris Punjab De, surfaced, prompting Sudhir’s family to demand a probe into Amritpal’s role in the case. “The accused fired multiple shots at my brother in front of several police personnel. What were they doing? It clearly shows something is fishy. We want the police to investigate Amritpal’s role in the incident. He is a radical preacher who has been openly calling for violence, secession and separatism. Sandeep has been seen with Amritpal on several occasions. The AAP government seems to be sleeping while the presence of extremist elements is rising. The law and order situation is worrisome and people are in the grip of fear. There is a nexus between gangsters and militants behind the killing. My family has been receiving threats from unknown mobile numbers,” says Brij Mohan Suri, the victim’s brother