NRI shot in front of wife and son in Punjab's Amritsar ; incident captured on CCTV
Amritsar: An NRI, who recently returned from the United States was shot at his home in Amritsar's Daburji area, Punjab, on Saturday, media reports said.
Two armed men entered Sukhchain Singh's residence and opened fire at close range, despite pleas from his wife and child for his life.
Singh sustained two bullet wounds and has been hospitalized.
He is currently in stable condition with injuries to his face and hands.
The entire incident was captured on Singh's CCTV camera, showing the attackers fleeing after their pistols jammed.
Singh had returned to Amritsar about 20 days ago after living in the US and had recently purchased a luxury car worth Rs 1.5 crore.
The assailants entered his home under the guise of asking about the car's registration certificate before firing at him.
Singh's family has demanded strict action against those responsible, with his mother alleging that his first wife's family was behind the attack.
The government has directed the Amritsar Police Commissioner to take immediate action.
An FIR has been filed against five members of Singh's ex-wife's family, according to ANI.
The police have seized the CCTV footage from Singh's residence and have begun investigating the incident.
The opposition parties in Punjab have used the incident to criticize the ruling AAP government over the state's law and order situation.
Punjab's Minister for NRI Affairs, Kuldeep S. Dhaliwal, suggested that the attack might have been due to a personal dispute.
"We are verifying whether the issue was personal. Property and other personal disputes related to NRIs are prevalent these days. Yesterday also, I resolved a similar issue in Ludhiana. My appeal to NRIs is that any such personal issue should be resolved by sitting together and through mutual consent," Dhaliwal said.
Tagging Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in his post on X, Badal said, "Such incidents are happening every day in your state. Punjabis are not safe even in their homes. I think you should resign on moral grounds."
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਨ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਵਿਗੜ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੈ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਅੱਜ ਦੇ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਦੇਖ ਬਹੁਤ ਦੁੱਖੀ ਹਾਂ, ਅੱਜ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਦੁਬੁਰਜੀ, ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ NRI ਵੀਰ ਸੁਖਚੈਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਵੜ ਕੇ ਬਦਮਾਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਰੇਆਮ ਗੋਲੀਆਂ ਚਲਾ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ।
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) August 24, 2024
ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੁੱਤ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਸੂਮ ਬੱਚਾ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਹੱਥ ਜੋੜ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ… pic.twitter.com/WJbQws2SAL
Former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the "deadly attack" on Sukhchain Singh had "shaken" Punjab. "You (Bhagwant Mann) and your family go around in bullet-proof vehicles. But, who will protect the Punjabis? Extortion, interviews of gangsters in jails, threats, and murder have become commonplace in Punjab," Harsimrat said.
ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ @BhagwantMann ਤੁਸੀਂ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਤਾਂ ਬੁਲਟ ਪਰੂਫ ਗੱਡੀਆਂ, ਚੈਬਰ ਅਤੇ ਸੈਕੜੇ ਪੁਲਸ ਮੁਲਾਜਮ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਚੱਲਦੇ ਹੋ ਪਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਕੌਣ ਕਰੇਗਾ ?
— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) August 24, 2024
ਅੱਜ ਦੁਬੁਰਜੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿੱਖੇ NRI ਸੁਖਚੈਨ ਸਿੰਘ 'ਤੇ ਘਰ ਵੜਕੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਨਲੇਵਾ ਹਮਲੇ ਨੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਹਿਲਾ ਕੇ ਰੱਖ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ, ਹਰ… pic.twitter.com/vEupVMdvJc
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal remarked that the law and order situation in Punjab had "completely collapsed."
Meanwhile, BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa expressed deep pain and shock over the incident, according to reports.
"Looks like there is no law and order in Punjab... Bhagwant Mann's Rangla Punjab is just a dialogue," Sirsa said.
Today’s brutal attack on NRI Sukhchain Singh in his own home in Duburji, Sri Amritsar Sahib, shows there is no law & order in Punjab under @AAPPunjab
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) August 24, 2024
Daylight murders, extortion and gangster interviews from jail, threats etc have become the new normal in the state. What is… pic.twitter.com/66DCFQtKI5
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring stated that while NRIs once took pride in calling Punjab their home, they now live in fear.
"The AAP government's incompetence has made Punjab a danger zone. Punjab needs action not bhashan," Warring tweeted.
NRIs, once proud to call Punjab their home, now live in FEAR! An NRI shot inside his home, in front of his family! @AAPPunjab govt, your incompetence has made Punjab a danger zone!
— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) August 24, 2024
Bhagwant mann ji,
Punjab need action not “Bhashan”
#AAPFails #PunjabInShambles #LawAndOrder pic.twitter.com/CPPR69k3kt
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