Village sarpanch shot dead in Punjab’s Moga, 8-10 rounds fired in daylight killing; 3rd in 3 months

“We have identified the assailants and have gathered some clues. All our teams are on the job and the accused will be nabbed soon. The deceased sarpanch was also a history-sheeter. He was booked in 10-12 previous FIRs and was involved in some clashes,” the SSP added.

The SHO added that the family of the deceased refused to get an FIR registered. “They have also refused the autopsy and are yet to record any statement.

Sources said that Happy was elected as an independent sarpanch but was currently on cordial terms with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to get funds for the village’s development.

This is the third such killing in the last two months in Punjab. On January 4, AAP sarpanch Jharmal Singh of Valtoha village in Amritsar district was shot dead at a wedding. On February 18, AAP sarpanch Harbarinder Singh of Thathian Mehta village was gunned down by two unidentified assailants at a wedding in Tarn Taran district. In an unverified social media post, the Lakhbir Singh Landa gang had claimed responsibility for the killing.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia attacked the ruling AAP over the killing, alleging that it has exposed the gap between the government’s claims about law and order in the state and the ground reality.

Woman blames AAP MLA

Meanwhile, a woman identified as Rupinder Kaur, blamed AAP’s Baghapurana MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand for the murder. She alleged that the MLA has been threatening Happy. Her video, while blaming the AAP MLA for the killing, was shared by Opposition leaders including SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia and Congress’s Sukhpal Singh Khaira, demanding that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann should take action against Sukhanand.

However, speaking to The Indian Express, AAP MLA Sukhanand said, “Anyone can take anyone’s name but without evidence, it means nothing. I am ready to face the law. They must present evidence against me.”

The MLA added that Rupinder is the wife of one Manpreet Singh but was in a live-in relationship with Happy. “Happy has 11 FIRs registered against him and used to threaten Manpreet. When they sought my help, I had intervened for an amicable divorce but it did not materialise. Now my name is being dragged into this because Rupinder’s father is an Akali Dal supporter. Happy’s first marriage was also solemnized after he had threatened the woman and her parents via gangster Devinder Bambiha who was then alive. Some months ago, Rupinder called me and said that Manpreet was threatening her with my name. I told her I am nowhere in their matrimonial dispute,” the MLA said.

AAP’s Nihal Singh Wala MLA Manjit Singh Bilaspur, in whose constituency Patto Heera Singh falls, said, “Happy was elected as an independent sarpanch but he coordinated with us for development works in his village. The police are investigating his murder case.”