The Amritsar Police Commissionerate has arrested five people in connection with the NRI Sukhchain Singh shooting case, but the main shooters are still at large. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend them, officials said on Sunday.
Among those arrested is Sarvan Singh, the father-in-law of Sukhchain Singh from Tanda, Hoshiarpur. Sarvan is the father of his first wife. The others arrested have been identified as Jagjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh, both residents of Thath village in Tarn Taran; Digambar Atri, a hotel owner; and Abhilash Bhaskar, a hotel manager from Katra Ahluwalia.
Police Commissioner Ranjit Singh Dhillon revealed that the accused had provided shelter to the two shooters who were on the run, while the hotel owner and manager were arrested for giving them a room without verifying their ID proofs. Jagjit and Chamkaur, who were familiar with the shooters, helped them hide in the Tarn Taran area after the attack on Sukhchain Singh.
Dhillon added that both shooters have been identified, and a manhunt is actively underway to capture them. One of the suspects has a criminal record, including 10 cases related to attempted murder, theft, robbery, and NDPS Act violations. This suspect was released on bail from Kapurthala jail in February this year, while his accomplice, also with NDPS cases, was released from the same jail in September last year.
Earlier, the police had booked three USA-based NRIs, including Sukhwinder Singh, the victim’s brother-in-law; Kuljinder Kaur, his sister-in-law; and her husband, Jasvir Singh; along with his mother-in-law, Nishan Kaur.
Sukhchain Singh was shot at by two armed assailants at his home in Daburji in front of his family. When their pistols malfunctioned, they fled the scene. Sukhchain was rushed to the hospital with two bullet injuries but is now out of danger, according to officials.