Two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead a Punjab Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) at the Bhagtanwala grain market here in the early hours of Friday, marking the fourth targeted attack on police personnel in the state this year.The deceased was identified as ASI Harjit Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, who was in his early 50s. Posted with the Gate Hakima police, he was on duty near the grain market when two youths allegedly opened fire on him.Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that Harjit Singh had left for duty around 9.30 pm on Thursday. CCTV footage analysed by the police showed two Sikh men arriving in the area on an Activa scooter at 12.32 am. Investigators suspect the attack took place around that time.The police received information through the emergency response system at 1.05 am that a police officer had been shot. Harjit Singh was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.According to the police, a preliminary forensic examination suggested that a single shot was fired. A bullet casing of .30 bore was recovered from the spot and an entry wound was found on the back of the neck. Other details would be established through the post-mortem and forensic examination.The DGP visited the crime scene and also met bereaved family members.He also held a meeting with the IG (Border Range), SSP (Amritsar Rural) and AIG (SSOC) at the Amritsar Police Commissionerate to review the investigation and operational preparedness.“Special teams have been formed to track the suspects using CCTV footage. The police are also probing the possible involvement of foreign-based handlers and elements operating from Pakistan,” said the DGP.Regarding the Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan claiming responsibility for earlier attacks, the DGP said the preliminary investigation suggested that it might have been used as a cover by a “front organisation”. He said the modus operandi could vary from case to case.The killing marks the fourth targeted attack on police personnel in Punjab this year. Earlier, two policemen were shot dead in Dorangla, Gurdaspur. ASI Joga Singh was killed in the Majitha area, while ASI Jaswant Singh survived a separate firing attack in the Rajasansi area with minor head injuries.Yadav said the investigation would be pursued at the highest level and the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to justice. He said possible links with other incidents would also be examined.The Punjab Government announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1 crore to the deceased’s family. The family would also receive an insurance benefit of Rs 1 crore and a government job for an eligible member, he said.