Balwinder Singh Sandhu, awardee of Shaurya Chakra, shot dead in Punjab
Key points
- Centra Demands A Report From Amarinder Singh Government On Assassination Of Awarded Shaurya Chakra In Punjab
- Murder Linked to ‘Referendum 2020’ Says Widow of Killed Award Winning Shaurya Chakra; Center calls on Punjab government to investigate Khalistan angle
- Punjab Government Should Say Why Shaurya Chakra Awardee’s Security Coverage Was Withdrawn: SAD Leader
New Delhi: Two days after the assassination of Shaurya Chakra laureate Balwinder Singh Sandhu, the central government on Sunday requested a report from the Punjab government and asked to analyze the angle of Khalistani’s hand in the incident.
Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who fought terrorism in Punjab, was shot dead by two unknown assailants in the Tarn Taran district on Friday. Balwinder Singh’s wife had said yesterday that there are 42 recorded FIRs of attacks on his family and that countless other attacks have taken place that are not recorded.
Punjab Prime Minister Amarinder Singh condemned Sandhu’s death and established a special investigation team (SIT) headed by the Ferozpur Deputy Inspector General to investigate the murder. The prime minister said that the SIT will investigate the murder, taking into account all possibilities. The culprits will not be spared, he added.
‘Murder linked to 2020 referendum’
The 62-year-old Shaurya Chakra’s widow blamed the militants for the killing. “It is the work of the Khalistani terrorists, as my family did not have any personal enmity with anyone,” Sandhu’s wife, Jagdish Kaur, told the media.
“His assassination is the first step in the start of the ‘Referendum 2020’ in Punjab,” he added.
‘Referendum 2020’, propagated globally by the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), is a pro-Khalistan movement to ‘liberate’ Punjab as a ‘nation’ state. CCTV video from the area shows that one of the two assailants entered the victim’s home and shot Balwinder Singh.
‘Punjab government should say why security cover was removed’
Earlier on Saturday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha had asked the Amarinder government the reasons for “withdrawing security” from the Shaurya Chakra awardee.
“If Balwinder Singh’s security was removed, what was the motive? A murder took place today. There is no reason why people are granted or removed security. Was the warranty removed?” He asked. Valtoha.
Police officers said that every effort was being made to arrest those responsible for Balwinder Singh’s death.
