Gurdaspur, Feb 23 — A day after two Punjab Police personnel were shot dead near the international border, a little-known outfit, Tehrik-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH), on Monday released a purported “execution” video claiming responsibility for the killings, even as investigators cautioned that the clip remains unverified.
The video, circulating on social media, allegedly shows a gunman firing at the head of a policeman and carries threatening slogans such as “More to come shortly” and “RSS we are coming,” in an apparent warning to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Police sources said they are examining whether the attack was carried out by local gangsters acting on directions from handlers based outside the country. “The terror angle cannot be ruled out. We are verifying TTH’s claims with central agencies,” a senior officer said, adding that the group has no established footprint in Punjab.
Investigators have recovered CCTV footage showing five suspects on two motorcycles near the checkpost around the time of the attack. Technical and forensic teams are analysing the footage and call detail records, officials said.
In a separate development, an audio clip purportedly featuring Pakistan-based gangster Shehzad Bhatti surfaced online, in which the speaker describes the killings as a “befitting reply” to the Punjab Police and alleges “fake encounters.” The authenticity of the audio is also being verified.
The bodies of Assistant Sub-Inspector Gurnam Singh and constable Ashok Kumar were found early Sunday morning at a police checkpost in Adhian village under the Dorangla police station area, close to a Border Security Force (BSF) outpost. The constable was attached to the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB).
The incident came to light after the two failed to respond to repeated radio and phone calls. Village sarpanch Kamaljit Singh, asked by the station house officer to check the post, discovered the bodies around 8 am.
“The ASI was lying near a heater with his hands in his pockets, suggesting he was warming himself. The constable was under a quilt and appears to have been shot while asleep,” the sarpanch said.
Officials said the room where the personnel were deployed did not have a door, making it easily accessible. Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police Aditya visited the spot along with forensic and technical teams as the investigation continues.