Chandigarh, Apr 1 (IANS): In yet another killing of an official of Punjab Police, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was shot dead by unidentified people near Jalandhar city late Sunday night, police said Monday.

ASI Gurdev Singh, who was on duty on National Highway No. 1 (Delhi-Amritsar) was allegedly shot dead near Haveli Restaurant, 10 km from Jalandhar city and 150 km from Chandigarh.

This is the fourth killing of a Punjab Police officer in the month of March.

Since December last year, five ASIs have been killed in separate incidents.

According to police, the ASI was chasing a youth who appeared suspicious. A car stopped near the ASI, one man emerged and shot the police official at close range. A head constable, who was accompanying the ASI, managed to save himself.

The head constable said there were three people in the car, who sped after gunning down the ASI.

ASI Ravinder Pal Singh Mangat was killed March 29 after being assaulted by a truck driver near Patiala town, 80 km from here. The ASI had signalled the truck to stop near the upcoming campus of the Rajiv Gandhi National Law University during a VIP visit.

Another ASI, Kulbir Singh died in mysterious circumstances when he went with a police raiding party to a village in Tarn Taran district March 5 to take protesting farmers' leaders into preventive custody.

Another ASI was found dead in Punjab's Barnala area last month.

In December last year, ASI Ravinder Pal Singh was shot dead near Amritsar while trying to stop a ruling Aklali Dal leader from harassing his daughter.