Police: Akali Dal councillor shot dead; 3 accused identified

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Harpal Singh Randhawa said three to four persons tried to intercept the councillor, who was on a bike, before firing three to four bullets at him and fleeing from the spot. The crime was captured by a CCTV camera installed nearby.

Harjinder’s associates rushed him to a nearby hospital where he died during the treatment, police said, the SAD leader had sustained three bullet wounds.

The officer said that Harjinder’s family has alleged that the attackers were the same individuals who had previously opened fire at his residence and had issued him threats.

Based on the CCTV footage, police identified three accused — Gopi, Amit and Karan Kira, all residents of Jandiala Guru — who were allegedly involved in the murder. The accused are associated with the Krishna gang, they said.

Addressing the media, DCP City Jagjit Singh Walia said that the murder was the result of a clash between two rival groups. “We have identified the assailants, and the vehicle used during the incident has been traced. Our teams are tracking the accused, and they will be arrested soon,” the DCP said.

He said on Friday, two members of the Krishna gang were arrested with weapons, and during their interrogation, it came to fore that that were involved in firing shots at the house of one Satnam Singh in Jandiala Guru a few days ago.

SSP, Amritsar Rural, Maninder Singh too said that Harjinder’s murder was the outcome of an ongoing rivalry between two gangs and that neither the victim nor his family had ever requested police protection. He said that in an earlier case filed by Harjinder and his associates against their rivals, the police had arrested all the named individuals.

Meanwhile, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the incident and lambasted the AAP government saying that Harjinder’s death “has completely exposed the law and order situation in Punjab”. The SAD chief claimed that a few days ago, shots were fired at Singh’s house but despite filing a complaint, police did not take any action in the matter.

Badal also questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Punjab Police chief over the alleged police inaction.

SAD leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia claimed the councillor had been receiving threat calls about which he had informed the police who did nothing. He also lashed out at the AAP government for the “pathetic” law and order situation in the state. “The Chief Minister and DGP must explain who is responsible,” he said.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said in a post on X, “Brutal broad daylight murder of Akali Dal councillor is highly condemnable. This again reflects poorly on the deteriorating law and order situation prevailing in Punjab. Criminals have either no fear of law or are being patronised by the powers that be. AAP is pushing Punjab towards complete lawlessness and anarchy”.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the “law and order has completely collapsed in Punjab since the AAP came to power” and it became evident again as a councillor was shot dead.

Punjab Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal described Harjinder’s murder as tragic and unacceptable. “The Punjab government and I deeply condemn this heinous crime. While such incidents are heart-rending, let me assure the people of Punjab that the culprits will not escape justice. The killers have been identified within hours, and arrests will follow soon. Our government is committed to restoring peace and eliminating gang culture from Punjab,” Dhaliwal said.

The minister also criticised political parties attempting to “politicise” the incident. Dhaliwal accused the erstwhile SAD-BJP regime of “fostering a culture of crime and drugs” during their tenure.

“The seeds of gang violence and drug abuse were sown during their rule. Now, we are left to clean up their mess,” Dhaliwal alleged.