AAP leader, village sarpanch shot dead at wedding function in Amritsar

Aam Aadmi Party leader and sarpanch of Valtoha village in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, Jarmal Singh (50), was shot dead by two unidentified men while attending a wedding function at a resort near the Verka bypass in Amritsar district on Sunday.

The killing took place even as AAP MLA Sarwan Singh Dhun was present at the same venue. The incident has sent shockwaves through the ruling party and comes just weeks after the murder of kabaddi player-turned-promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh, also known as Rana Balachauria, who was shot dead during a tournament in Mohali on December 15.

Rana, 30, was killed in a public setting in the presence of players and spectators at around 5.30 pm, barely 300 metres from the Sohana police station in Sector 79 of Mohali. Police have so far found no direct link between the two crimes.

Shooters posed as wedding guests

Jarmal Singh was attending the wedding of the sister of Harjit Singh Serry, sarpanch of neighbouring Amarkot village, when the assailants struck. According to eyewitnesses, the two accused, dressed in formal suits, entered the venue posing as wedding guests and opened fire at close range, catching the sarpanch unawares.

Initial investigations indicate that Jarmal Singh was shot in the head. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting.

Police teams rushed to the spot soon after the incident and launched a probe. Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Jagjit Singh Walia said efforts were underway to identify and arrest the assailants using both human intelligence and technical surveillance.

“We have initiated a detailed investigation. The attackers will be traced soon,” Walia said.

Extortion threats cited

AAP MLA Sarwan Singh Dhun said he was with Jarmal Singh at the function shortly before the shooting.

“We had tea together, after which I went inside the hall for lunch. Jarmal Singh stayed in the courtyard with other guests. Suddenly, there was firing outside the hall,” the MLA said. “When I rushed out, I saw that he had been critically injured and was being taken to the hospital.”

Dhun said the deceased had been receiving extortion calls and had earlier registered an FIR at the Valtoha police station. “The police had taken action against some persons based on his complaint,” he said, adding that further details were awaited.

“His death is a great personal loss to me and to the village. The police are investigating the matter,” the MLA added.