Indian police forces have reported two separate encounters resulting in the deaths of a suspect in the murder of a police officer and a prominent Maoist commander across the states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The incidents mark significant developments in ongoing law enforcement operations against criminal and insurgent elements.

In Amritsar, Punjab, Deepak Singh, who was identified as an accused in the recent murder of an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), was killed during a police encounter. The ASI, Harjit Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran district, had been shot from point-blank range on Friday by two men riding a motorcycle. Authorities launched an extensive investigation following the killing, employing a range of modern policing techniques to identify and track the individuals responsible.

The tracing operation for the accused involved meticulous analysis of CCTV footage from the area, sophisticated technical inputs, comprehensive tower-dump analysis to identify mobile activity, and the deployment of both local intelligence networks and human sources. This multi-pronged approach ultimately led law enforcement to Deepak Singh, culminating in the encounter where he was killed.

Investigations into the ASI's murder are also probing a potential cross-border terror link. Police have alleged that Deepak Singh was lured into committing the crime by an individual based in Pakistan, who reportedly promised him financial rewards and illicit narcotics. This aspect of the case suggests a deeper conspiracy that authorities are actively working to uncover.

Separately, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Brijesh Ganjhu, also known by his alias Gopal Singh, a high-ranking Maoist commander, was killed in a police encounter in Varanasi. Ganjhu was a significant figure in the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), a banned extremist organisation primarily active in Jharkhand. His death represents a notable blow to the leadership structure of the outlawed group.

A substantial bounty of ₹30 lakh (approximately $36,000 USD) had been placed on Ganjhu by authorities, underscoring the serious nature of his criminal activities and his importance within the TPC. His elimination comes as part of broader efforts by Indian security forces to neutralise leaders of banned groups and counter insurgency across various regions.