Punjab police killed one of two accused in the murder of assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Harjit Singh in an encounter on Thanda Road, according to reports from Hindustan Times and NDTV. The accused, identified as Deepak Singh, was shot dead during a police checkpoint operation. A second suspect managed to escape and is still being pursued. The police have recovered a .30 bore pistol, two magazines, eight live cartridges, a mobile phone, and a Honda Activa scooter allegedly used in the crime.

The investigation has revealed that Deepak Singh, a resident of Amritsar's Mulchak, was allegedly lured by a Pakistan-based individual to carry out the attack. According to the Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill, the accused were promised money and involvement in the narcotics trade. The police are also examining the possibility of a terror link, with Deepak allegedly receiving financial incentives from a Pakistan-based terrorist. The police have stated that forensic analysis of the accused's mobile phone will help establish a concrete link to the suspect in Pakistan.

The murder of ASI Harjit Singh, who was on patrol duty in the Hakima police station area of Amritsar, occurred on Friday. The officer was shot from behind at point-blank range by two men on a bike. Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed that a single bullet struck Harjit Singh slightly towards the back of the neck. The police have recovered a .30 bore empty cartridge case from the crime scene.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced an ex gratia payment of ₹1 crore for the bereaved family of ASI Harjit Singh, along with an additional insurance payout of ₹1 crore. DGP Gaurav Yadav has vowed to bring the accused to justice. Senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh has raised concerns about the law-and-order situation in Punjab under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

The police have set up checkpoints across Amritsar following the murder and issued a 'red alert.' The police commissioner described the encounter as a result of the suspect's refusal to comply with the stop order at the checkpoint. The suspect fired four rounds, prompting the police to retaliate with six rounds in self-defence. The suspect was hit by one of the police rounds and was declared 'brought dead' upon arrival at the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing, with the police probing the accused's links to a Pakistan-based terrorist. The police have stated that the accused were promised money and involvement in the narcotics trade by a 'man from Pakistan' operating from abroad. The police are also examining the possibility of a terror link, with the accused allegedly receiving financial incentives from a Pakistan-based terrorist. The police have not yet confirmed the exact nature of the relationship between the accused and the suspected terrorist.

The case remains under investigation, with the police continuing efforts to trace the second suspect. The police have not yet provided any further details on the motive behind the attack or the identity of the suspected terrorist. The police have also not confirmed whether the accused had any prior criminal history beyond the drugs case mentioned in the reports. The case is expected to be further updated as the investigation progresses.