A village sarpanch was fatally shot in Punjab's Moga district, prompting a police investigation into personal rivalries and raising concerns about the safety of local leaders in the region.
Key Points
- Harpinder Singh, a village sarpanch in Punjab's Moga district, was shot dead by assailants in a suspected act of personal rivalry.
- Police have identified the suspects and are currently investigating the Moga sarpanch murder, ruling out gang involvement at this stage.
- This is the third killing of a sarpanch in Punjab in the last two months, raising concerns about the safety of elected officials.
- Opposition parties are criticising the ruling AAP government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab following the sarpanch murder.
A village sarpanch was shot dead by four to five assailants in broad daylight in Punjab's Moga district on Friday, police said.
Harpinder Singh alias Happy, sarpanch of Patto Hira Singh village, was attacked on the Baghapurana-Kotkapura road over suspected personal rivalry, police said.
Singh had gone to his gym and when he stepped out of his car, the assailants, who came in an SUV, fired 10-12 rounds at him. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died, they said.
Police Investigation into Moga Sarpanch Murder
Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Gandhi, who visited the spot, said personal rivalry appeared to be the reason behind the killing and ruled out the involvement of any gangster.
Those behind the firing have been identified. Further investigation is underway, he said.
"We have gathered some clues. All our teams are on the job and the accused will be nabbed soon," the SSP said.
Rising Concerns Over Law and Order in Punjab
This is the third such killing in the last two months in Punjab.
On January 4, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch Jharmal Singh of Valtoha village in Amritsar district was shot dead at a wedding.
On February 18, AAP sarpanch Harbarinder Singh of Thathian Mehta village was gunned down by two unidentified assailants at a wedding in Tarn Taran district. In an unverified social media post, the Lakhbir Singh Landa gang had claimed responsibility for the killing.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia attacked the ruling AAP over the killing, alleging that it has exposed the gap between the government's claims about law and order in the state and the ground reality.
He claimed the state machinery has failed to protect elected representatives.
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