Punjab Newsline | Mohali
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Punjab Police died after sustaining gunshot injuries in Sector 80, Mohali, on Thursday morning. Police have described the incident as a case of accidental firing, but the deceased officer’s family has raised serious questions over the circumstances surrounding his death.
The deceased has been identified as ASI Onkar Singh, who was deployed as a gunman with retired Punjab DGP Arpit Shukla. According to police, the officer suffered fatal injuries when his service weapon accidentally discharged.
Family members said they received a phone call informing them that Onkar Singh had collapsed while standing and that a firearm had gone off during the incident. However, his wife expressed doubts about the official version, claiming that her husband had been under stress and had been seeking leave, which was allegedly not being granted.
She said Onkar Singh was on leave on Wednesday but was called back to duty after receiving a phone call. According to information conveyed to the family, the pistol hanging around his neck discharged when he fell. Questioning the explanation, she asked how a fall could result in four to five bullet injuries if only a single shot had been fired.
A resident of Nawanshahr district, Onkar Singh is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son studying in Class 12. One daughter is pursuing higher studies abroad, while the other is also a student. His father is a retired ASI from Punjab Police, and his mother is a homemaker. He had reportedly been part of the retired DGP’s security detail for nearly five years.
The deceased officer’s son, Yadvinder Singh, said he had seen both his father’s body and a video of the incident. According to him, the footage showed the weapon falling to the ground, followed by seven to eight rounds being fired. He also claimed that bullet marks were visible on the ceiling. He maintained that his father was not facing any personal or professional issues.
Senior police officer Simarjeet Singh Segaril, who reached the spot, stated that ASI Onkar Singh died after a weapon accidentally discharged. He said the officer was performing sentry duty with a senior official and that the firing occurred after a rifle fell to the ground. Police have registered the case as an accidental death and are continuing their investigation into the incident.
