Constable Tarun Bali who was a 29-year-old police officer of Punjabi origin serving with Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Canada died after sustaining critical injuries while performing his duties in Ontario province.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police the incident took place at around 12:30 pm on Tuesday near Kendall Concession Road 7 and Concession Road 6 in Hearst area of Northern Ontario and police were searching for an 18-year-old youth who had allegedly escaped from hospital supervision under Mental Health Act and during the operation police attempted to intercept the suspect. Authorities allege that accused drove a vehicle into officers causing severe injuries to Constable Tarun Bali and despite medical efforts to save him he later succumbed to his injuries. Another police officer who was with him was also seriously injured and remains under medical care.
Police have arrested the 18-year-old accused and he has been charged with first-degree murder evading police, dangerous driving and other related offences and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Constable Tarun Bali was serving with OPP's Dufferin Detachment and had been working in police service for the past two-and-a-half years and at the time of the incident he was on a special assignment with James Bay Detachment. Tarun Bali hailed from Nangal in Punjab's Ropar district and he was younger son of Ashok Bali and Neena Bali. The family had previously lived in Shivalik Avenue, Nangal before later moving to Toronto, Canada. Family sources said he had joined Ontario Provincial Police around two-and-a-half years ago and about two years ago he married Komal a woman of Punjabi origin living in Canada.
The Ontario Provincial Police confirmed his death on Tuesday.
OPP Criminal Investigation Branch is leading the investigation and the Office of Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service are also assisting in the probe and according to sources Constable Bali's body will be transported to Chief Coroner's Office in Toronto for a post-mortem examination and other legal formalities. A special convoy of emergency vehicles is expected to accompany the body during the journey.
His death has led to grief among Canadian police force, Indo-Canadian community and residents of his hometown in Punjab. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and several others have paid tribute to the fallen officer and expressed condolences to his family.