Punjab reels from yet another violent episode as AAP sarpanch Harpinder Singh was shot dead in broad daylight at a wedding venue in Tarn Taran. The gruesome attack happened at Sidhu Marriage Farm on the Bathinda-Tarn Taran highway, turning a joyous occasion into a bloodbath.
Eyewitnesses described how three masked gunmen stormed the premises and fired indiscriminately at the village head from Thathian. Harpinder collapsed instantly, declared dead before medical aid could arrive. In the chaos, his cousin Germanjit Singh gave chase but was struck by a bullet in the leg, now battling for life in hospital.
SSP Surinder Lamba arrived promptly, outlining the sequence: ‘The sarpanch was attending a wedding near Sarla police station when attackers struck. He passed away while being rushed to hospital. The injured man had followed the assailants.’
No leads on extortion or threats have surfaced yet, but early clues suggest a feud-driven vendetta. ‘We’ve deployed four teams and I’m overseeing the investigation personally. The perpetrators will be brought to book swiftly,’ Lamba vowed.
Echoing a recent sarpanch murder in Amritsar, this incident underscores escalating threats to grassroots politicians in Punjab’s volatile belt. Police are combing the area, appealing for public tips to crack the case.