Tirath Singh, the son of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch, was shot dead and his friend was injured Monday evening when assailants opened fire outside a Gurdwara in Cheete Kalan village, Amritsar.
He was returning after offering prayers at the Gurdwara with his friend Ranjeet Singh when assailants allegedly opened indiscriminate fire.
Tirath died on the spot, though he was rushed to the hospital. According to reports, seven to eight rounds of shots were fired by the assailants at them.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the murder was the result of an old family rivalry.
Two fatal bullets struck Tirath, while Ranjeet was shot in the thigh and is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital, police said. "He is out of danger," said an official.
Meanwhile, Tirath's brother, Karaj Singh, said that his family was targeted as they used to raise their voice against drug peddlers. The family suspects that the involvement of a rival group from the village is likely behind the attack.
The police have identified four suspects in the case: Gurjant, Gora, Harkirat (alias 'Hockey'), and Gurditt Singh.
The victim's brother is a member of the Block Samiti while his mother serves as the village sarpanch. Notably, Karaj Singh had won the election on an AAP ticket.
Kavalpreet Singh Chahal, SSP (Amritsar Rural), said that the initial investigation points to a case of personal enmity rather than a gang war.
BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu said that even the ruling party leaders are not safe in the state. "When a government cannot even secure the homes of its own village heads, what protection can it possibly offer to Punjab?" he said.
