Punjab: AAP sarpanch shot dead at wedding in Tarn Taran, assailants came with AK47, two police officers suspended

AAP sarpanch Harbarinder Singh was shot dead at a wedding in Tarn Taran
AAP sarpanch Harbarinder Singh murdered in Tarn Taran during a wedding ceremony (Image: HT/Dall-E)

On 18 February, an Aam Aadmi Party sarpanch was shot dead during a wedding ceremony in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. The incident has triggered fresh concerns over law and order in the border state. The murder took place barely a month after another AAP sarpanch was gunned down at a marriage function. The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Harbarinder Singh. He was serving as sarpanch of Thathian Mehantan village under Sarhali police station.

According to media reports, Singh went to Sidhu Farm in Sheron village to attend the wedding of his relative Gursewak Singh. At around 3:15 pm, three armed assailants arrived on a motorcycle. One assailant approached from behind and shot Singh in the head at close range. When the incident happened, there were 500 guests present at the venue.

Immediately after Singh was shot, his cousin, Jermandeep Singh, attempted to intervene and drew his licensed pistol. However, another assailant, who was armed with an AK47 rifle, opened fire and critically injured him. The assailants fled on the motorcycle, assisted by a third accomplice who was waiting outside.

Police recovered empty cartridges from the scene. Officials from Sarhali police station reached the venue around 20 minutes after the firing. Harbarinder Singh was a commission agent and owned agricultural land. He is survived by two sons, both under 10.

Opposition leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress accused the state government of failing to curb rising violence, questioning the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler said, “Is this Punjab, or a gangland? Everybody is asking this question, the way gangsters are fearlessly doing this, it seems that the AAP has mortgaged the Punjab to gangsters. Today an AAP Sarpanch was killed, now it is the time to wake up. I want to ask the CM Bhagwant Mann, who is responsible for this? They speak a lot, Arvind Kejriwal had talked about addressing the problem in 7 days, now 7 months have gone, the incidents have continued, it started with the murder of Sidhu Moosewala… Punjabis are not safe today… Punjab is a border state, the DGP was at a rally, it is not his job, the CM should take moral responsibility…”

Congress leader Pargat Singh said, “See, the law and order has totally collapsed, I did not understand why the DGP, chief secretary was brought in a rally in Moga, what I understand, the AAP has no trust on its leaders… They (DGP, chief secretary) have failed professionally… I don’t understand what AAP is thinking, they should give up on poster war, social media war, and start doing work. Though they have lost faith of people, they should focus on the issue.”

Second such incident in weeks

On 5th January, AAP Sarpanch Jarmal Singh of Valtoha Sandhua village was shot dead during a wedding ceremony in Amritsar. Earlier this month, Congress leader Umarsir Singh was also killed in Moga.

SSP Surendra Lamba said preliminary investigation suggests no extortion angle and pointed towards possible personal enmity. Multiple teams, including forensic experts, have been formed to examine CCTV footage and probe the case.

Senior officers suspended

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav suspended DSP Jagbir Singh of Patti and SHO Gurvinder Singh of Sarhali over alleged lapses in preventive policing. Senior officers have been directed to closely supervise the investigation.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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