A Punjab Police officer, whose hand was chopped off with as word in an attack by a group of fugitives in Patiala, underwent a very long and complex surgery to get his hand re implanted 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 theirpainstaking effort. Wishing ASI Harjeet Singh a speedy recovery," thePunjab CM tweeted. 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, Chandigarhhad received a call from Dinkar Gupta, DG Police, Punjab around 7.45 am onSunday.

Dr Jagat Ram activated the emergency team at Advanced Traumacentre, PGI and gave the responsibility to Prof Ramesh Sharma, Head Departmentof Plastic Surgery to organise admission and hand re-implantation the a50-year-old cop.

PGI administration said that the cop had an amputationthrough the proximal wrist of his left hand. The reimplantation was started around10 am after initial preparation of the amputated part. Both radial and ulnarartery, the vena commitantes and an extra dorsal vein were anastomosed. All theflexors and extensor tendons were repaired" Dr Jagat Ram, PGI Director,said.

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

"The approximate time taken is about 7.5 hours. This istechnically very complex and challenging surgery, which has been successfullydone." Dr Jagat Ram said.

PGI doctors who performed the surgery said that cop's handis viable, warm with good circulation. "Plastic surgery team consisted ofconsultants Dr Sunil Gaba and Dr Jerry R John. Senior residents Dr Suraj Nair,Dr Mayank, Dr Chandra and Dr Shubendu, anaesthesia team consultant Dr AnkurSenior Resident, Dr Abhishek and Dr Purnima, nursing team S/N Arvind, S/N Snehaand S/N Arsh," a PGI spokesperson said.

ASI Harjeet Singh was injured along with two other Punjabpolicemen on Sunday morning when a group of Nihang Sikhs attacked them afterbeing asked to show curfew passes at a vegetable market in Patiala.Sevenpeople, including five attackers, were arrested hours later after an exchangeof fire at a gurdwara where the group fled after the 6.15 am incident in Sanaurtown.One of the arrested men suffered gunshot wound, police said. A 'mandi' officialwas also hurt earlier.

A video clip on social media appears to show ASI HarjeetSingh seeking help. A man picks up the severed hand and gives it to theofficer. He is then taken away from the scene on a two-wheeler.The ASI wasrushed to Rajindra hospital nearby and then referred to PGIMER in Chandigarhwhere he was undergoing surgery, police said. The other injuresd policemeninclude 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 tothose with curfew passes.The Nihangs -- members of a Sikh sect whose adherentscarry traditional arms and wear blue robes -- arrived in an SUV and were toldto 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 toGurdwara Khichri Sahib managed by them in Balbera village, around 25 km fromPatiala city.In their operation, policemen led by Inspector General (PatialaZone) Jatinder Singh Aaulakh stopped the movement of people a kilometer awayfrom the gurdwara and surrounded it, police said.Several policemen tookpositions in nearby fields. Special Operation Group SOG) of Punjab Police wasinvolved.

Media was barred from going near the gurdwara.

"Seven persons have been arrested," PunjabDirector General police Dinkar Gupta later told PTI.Three pistols, petrolbombs, swords, sacks of poppy husk and LPG cylinders were recovered fromgurdwara, the DGP said, adding that the searches were still on.

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

Local people, including a sarpanch, also went inside to talkto them but they did not relent, police said.The Nihangs threatened to set fireto 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 saidpolice acted in a respectful manner when they entered the gurdwara.

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

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

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh earlier said he was proud of thepolice party at the mandi for professionally handling the situation. In atweet, 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 wasundergoing surgery at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education andResearch (PGIMER) in Chandigarh

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

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

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