An elected village head affiliated with the Aam Aadmi Party was shot dead on Wednesday evening during a marriage function in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, in an attack that has intensified debate over public safety in the state.
Police officials said the victim, Harpinder Singh, who served as the sarpanch of Thathian Mehta village, was attending a wedding celebration at a private venue when three unidentified gunmen approached and opened fire at close range. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene. A relative seated next to him was critically wounded and rushed to hospital for treatment.
Investigators revealed that high-calibre weapons were used in the assault, and forensic teams recovered spent cartridges from the location. Authorities have launched a manhunt, forming multiple teams to trace the attackers and determine the motive behind the killing.
The incident comes weeks after another AAP-affiliated village leader was shot dead at a similar social gathering in Amritsar district, prompting concerns about a pattern of targeted violence. The latest attack occurred while the Punjab government is conducting an intensified crackdown on criminal networks under its ongoing anti-gangster campaign.
Political reactions were swift. Opposition leaders criticised the state administration, alleging that such incidents reflect deteriorating law and order. Meanwhile, police have assured that strict action will follow and that those responsible will be brought to justice.
