Aam Aadmi Party leader and sarpanch Jarmal Singh was allegedly shot dead by unidentified assailants at a wedding venue in Amritsar on Sunday, police said.
Police said that Jarmal, a resident of Valthoa village in Tarn Taran district, was attending a marriage ceremony Marigold Marriage Palace in Amritsar when some unidentified assailants shot him from point-blank range.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants, disguised as guests targeted the sarpanch when he was eating at a table. After a gunshot hit his forehead, he fell and was taken to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to injuries, police said.
Police visited the spot, took CCTV footage and recorded the statements of eyewitnesses.
AAP MLA Sarwan Singh Dhun from Khemkaran, who attended the wedding and was in the hall during during the attack, said, “We were at the wedding of Amarkot sarpanch Shairi’s sister. Sarpanch Jarmal was sitting at the table and eating food when the attackers came disguised as baraatis and shot him in the head. The family said that he was receiving threats and extortion demands from gangsters. Jarmal had even filed a case with the Valtoha police.”
He added that this isn’t a case of personal enmity. “Gangsters were behind it. The attackers targeted only him and fled,” he said.
An eyewitness also described the chaos, “Two unidentified youths arrived around 3 pm. They came straight to the sarpanch and shot him in the head.”
Story continues below this ad
Police said that the groom’s was from Dinanagar and the bride’s family from Amarkot village near Amritsar.
Amritsar DCP Jagjit Singh Walia said, “We are investigating the case and are looking at CCTV footage of the place. Intelligence and technical teams are also on the case; attackers posed as baraatis. We have cordoned off the venue and are questioning attendees.”
Jarmal had earlier won two elections with Shiromani Akali Dal. He later joined AAP and secured his current term with their support.
