2 back-to-back killings raise concerns over law and order situation

CHANDIGARH: Two back-to-back killings in Punjab, a Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader in Amritsar and Dera Sacha Sauda follower in Kotkapura, within a span of one week have raised serious concerns over the law and order situation in Punjab.

In the recent incident Pardeep Singh, a Dera follower, who was an accused in the 2015 sacrilege cases, was shot dead on Thursday in Faridkot’s Kotkapura district. On November 4, Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri was shot dead by a garment shop owner when he was protesting outside a temple in Amritsar.

Both Singh and Suri were killed in the presence of Punjab Police security guards who were attached with them keeping in view the threat perception. While Suri had 16 gunmen to protect him, Singh was given three armed guards.

This is fifth such incident in eight months of the AAP government wherein questions are being raised on the handling of law and order in the state. Mishandling of a clash between Sikh radicals and right-wing activists in Patiala, RPG attack on Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali, killing of singer Sidhu Moose Wala and state police’s failure to nab the accused gangsters have repeatedly given a political ammunition to the opposition parties to target the government.

The murders have put a question mark on the law and order situation. The situation needs thorough professional approach by the state police,” said former Punjab DGP SS Virk.

As officiating DGP Gaurav Yadav is on leave, special DGP Sanjeev Kalra told media that investigations are on in the case.

AAP’s Punjab unit chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.