Injured ASI Harjeet Singh being shifted to a government hospital in Patiala, Punjab on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)

A Punjab Police officer, whose hand was chopped off with a sword in an attack by a group of fugitives in Patiala, underwent a very long and complex surgery to get his hand reimplanted on Sunday and is now on a path to recovery.

Assistant Sub Inspector Harjeet Singh's seven-and-a-half hour surgery at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh was completed successfully, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh informed on Twitter.

"I am happy to share that a 7 1/2 hour long surgery has been successfully completed in PGI to repair the severed wrist of ASI Harjeet Singh. I thank the entire team of doctors and support staff for their painstaking effort. Wishing ASI Harjeet Singh a speedy recovery," the Punjab CM tweeted.

I am happy to share that a 7 1/2 hour long surgery has been successfully completed in PGI to repair the severed wrist of ASI Harjeet Singh. I thank the entire team of doctors and support staff for their painstaking effort. Wishing ASI Harjeet Singh a speedy recovery. — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 12, 2020

The doctors at PGIMER successfully grafted the cop's chopped hand after 7.5 hours long plastic surgery, which they said was "technically very complex and challenging".

A PGI bulletin said Dr Jagat Ram, Director PGI, Chandigarh had received a call from Dinkar Gupta, DG Police, Punjab around 7.45 am on Sunday.

Dr Jagat Ram activated the emergency team at Advanced Trauma centre, PGI and gave the responsibility to Prof Ramesh Sharma, Head Department of Plastic Surgery to organise admission and hand reimplantation of the 50-year-old cop.



PGI administration said that the cop had an amputation through the proximal wrist of his left hand.

"The reimplantation was started around 10 am after initial preparation of the amputated part. Both radial and ulnar artery, the vena commitantes and an extra dorsal vein were anastomosed. All the flexors and extensor tendons were repaired" Dr Jagat Ram, PGI Director, said.

He said that the nerves at the wrist were repaired and bony fixation was also done using three K-wires.

"The approximate time taken was about 7.5 hours. This was a technically very complex and challenging surgery, which has been successfully done," Dr Jagat Ram said.

PGI doctors who performed the surgery said that cop's hand is viable, warm with good circulation.

"Plastic surgery team consisted of consultants Dr Sunil Gaba and Dr Jerry R John. Senior residents Dr Suraj Nair, Dr Mayank, Dr Chandra and Dr Shubendu, anaesthesia team consultant Dr Ankur Senior Resident, Dr Abhishek and Dr Purnima, nursing team S/N Arvind, S/N Sneha and S/N Arsh," a PGI spokesperson said.

ASI Harjeet Singh was injured along with two other Punjab policemen on Sunday morning when a group of Nihang Sikhs attacked them after being asked to show curfew passes at a vegetable market in Patiala.

Seven people, including five attackers, were arrested hours later after an exchange of fire at a gurdwara where the group fled after the 6.15 am incident in Sanaur town.

One of the arrested men suffered gunshot wound, police said. A 'mandi' official was also hurt earlier.

A video clip on social media appears to show ASI Harjeet Singh seeking help. A man picks up the severed hand and gives it to the officer. He is then taken away from the scene on a two-wheeler.

The ASI was rushed to Rajindra hospital nearby and then referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh where he was undergoing surgery, police said. The other injuresd policemen include Sadar Patiala's station house officer.

With a lockdown in place to contain the spread of Covid-19, barricades were put up outside the wholesale market and entry restricted to those with curfew passes.

The Nihangs -- members of a Sikh sect whose adherents carry traditional arms and wear blue robes -- arrived in an SUV and were told to stop by 'mandi' officials, police said

"They were asked to show passes. But they rammed the vehicle against the gate and the barricades," Patiala's Senior Superintendent of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said.

The group then attacked the police personnel and fled to Gurdwara Khichri Sahib managed by them in Balbera village, around 25 km from Patiala city.

In their operation, policemen led by Inspector General (Patiala Zone) Jatinder Singh Aaulakh stopped the movement of people a kilometer away from the gurdwara and surrounded it, police said.

Several policemen took positions in nearby fields. Special Operation Group SOG) of Punjab Police was involved.

Media was barred from going near the gurdwara.

"Seven persons have been arrested," Punjab Director General police Dinkar Gupta later told PTI.

Three pistols, petrol bombs, swords, sacks of poppy husk and LPG cylinders were recovered from gurdwara, the DGP said, adding that the searches were still on.

"We requested them through the public address system to surrender but they refused," he said. The Nihangs inside hurled abuses at the policemen

Local people, including a sarpanch, also went inside to talk to them but they did not relent, police said.

The Nihangs threatened to set fire to the cooking gas cylinders if police entered, said DGP.

The DGP said an exchange of fire also took place.

Earlier Punjab's Special Chief Secretary KBS Sidhu said police acted in a respectful manner when they entered the gurdwara.

"The police party observed full Maryada while entering the Gurdwara premises. There were also women and children inside, who were unharmed, and have been left secure within the Gurdwara as before," he tweeted.

Sidhu said five of the seven arrested men were a part of the gang that launched "an unprovoked murderous assault on a police party, with sharp-edged weapons".

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh earlier said he was proud of the police party at the mandi for professionally handling the situation. In a tweet, the CM said he gave instructions to police to deal in the "strictest possible manner" with anyone breaking the law.

Earlier DGP Gupta tweeted that the injured ASI was undergoing surgery at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh

"In an unfortunate incident today morning, a group of Nihangs injured a few Police officers and a Mandi Board official at Sabzi Mandi, Patiala. ASI Harjeet Singh whose hand got cut-off has reached PGI Chandigarh," Gupta tweeted.

"I have spoken to Director PGI who has deputed top Plastic surgeons of PGI for surgery, which just started. The Nihang group will be arrested and further action taken soon," he said.

In another tweet, Gupta said, "Grateful to PGI for full support. Director PGI tells me that surgery has already started by 2 senior surgeons who will do their best. All of us praying to Waheguru for his full recovery!"

(With inputs from PTI)