The shooting that sparked the investigation took place on September 11 in Bhala, Ajnala, when Assistant Sub‑Inspector Jaswant Singh was riding a motorcycle and was shot by two motorcycle‑borne men; the bullet pierced his turban and grazed his head, leaving him with minor injuries.
Karan, a resident of Jhanjhoti village, was arrested the following day on the basis of CCTV footage and was held in police custody for five days, as ordered by the court.
On Wednesday night, authorities moved Karan from Amritsar to Majitha to recover the weapon allegedly used in the shooting. During the transfer, Karan slipped out of the vehicle and fled, a move that police have yet to explain.
The escape prompted a search operation across Majitha and neighboring villages. "We are working around the clock to locate the suspect," said Amritsar Rural SSP Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal. In response, Chahal suspended Rajasansi station SHO Gurpreet Singh over alleged negligence.
Investigators will now focus on the escape route and security lapses, and a second court hearing is scheduled for Monday to decide on further charges. Police will also re‑evaluate custody protocols to prevent a repeat incident.