New Delhi: Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu, who fought terrorism in Punjab, was shot dead by two unknown assailants in the Tarn Taran district on Friday, months after the government removed his security cover.
The men on a motorcycle fired four bullets at Sandhu, 62, when he was in his office next to his home in Bhikhiwind in the district and escaped, police said.
They took him to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Sandhu had fought terrorism in the state for years, facing dozens of terror attacks during the height of Khalistani militancy. He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra Award to Sandhu in 1993. The award is presented for courage, brave action, or self-sacrifice.
Singh’s security cover was withdrawn by the state government a year ago on the recommendation of the Tarn Taran police, his brother Ranjit said, adding that his entire family had remained on the terrorist list.
Sandhu’s wife, Jagdish Kaur, said it was the work of terrorists and maintained that her family had no personal enmity with anyone.
“The family always fought against terrorists. The terrorists committed up to 62 attacks against my family. We made numerous requests with DGP Dinkar Gupta for the security cover, but all to no avail, ”he said.
According to the Indian expressSandhu’s family said their security was removed despite their complaints to the police about threats. When the newspaper asked Tarn Taran SSP Dhruman H. Nimbale why Sandhu’s security was removed and not restored despite complaints from the family, he said: “We are investigating the matter.”
His wife, Jagdish Kaur, said the family will not incinerate Sandhu’s body until the government cracks down on the officials responsible for removing the security cover. “Our family must be given security and the accused must be arrested as soon as possible,” Kaur demanded.
Sandhu is survived by his wife and three children, Gagandeep Singh, Arshdeep Singh, and Prandeep Kaur.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh mourned Sandhu’s death and established a special investigation team 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.
Sandhu was killed by two unknown assailants around 7 a.m., Police Director General Dinkar Gupta said, adding that the victim died on the spot.
CCTV images of the area show that the assailants arrived at Sandu’s house and one of them entered the premises and shot him point-blank.
Details of the vehicle and its registration number are being investigated, DGP said in a statement.
Giving details of the SIT formed to investigate the murder, the DGP said that in addition to Ferozepur Range DIG Hardial Maan, the team is comprised of Tarn Taran Chief Police Superintendent Dhruman Nimbale and Bhikhiwind Police Deputy Superintendent Rajbir Singh.
One case has been registered under the relevant sections, including 302 (murder) of the IPC and the Gun Law, he added.
The Brave Heart of Tarn Taran also appeared in some documentaries. Inspired by Sandhu and his family, many people followed him and defended themselves from the terrorist attacks.
Sandhi was a former member of the CPI (M) and joined the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India in 2009. There were 42 FIRs registered for attacks against Sandhu and his family.
The Union government awarded him Shaurya Chakra in 1993.
“Balwinder Singh Sandhu and his brother Ranjit Singh Sandhu oppose the activities of the terrorists. They were on the terrorist casualty lists. So far, terrorists have made 16 attempts to wipe out Sandhu’s family in about 11 months, ”read the mention for the gallantry award.
“The terrorists attacked them in groups of 10 to 200, but each time, the Sandhu brothers with the help of their brave wives Jagdish Kaur Sandhu and Balraj Kaur Sandhu have successfully thwarted the militants’ attempts to kill them,” he said.
The militants had attacked the family on January 31, 1990 for the first time.
The family faced their deadliest attack on September 30, 1990 when some 200 terrorists surrounded their home from all sides and attacked them continuously for five hours with deadly weapons, including rocket launchers.
In this well-planned attack by the terrorists, the access road to the house was blocked by the spread of underground mines so that the police could not help them, the subpoena says.
Undaunted, the Sandhu brothers and their wives fought the terrorists with pistols and submachine guns provided by the government. The resistance shown by the Sandhu brothers and their relatives forced the terrorists to retreat, he said.
All of these people have shown high-level courage and bravery in facing the attack by terrorists and failing in their repeated assassination attempts, it further says.
(With input from PTI from Amritsar and Chandigarh)
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