Tarn Taran, Feb 18: A sense of fear has gripped grassroots political circles in Punjab after Harbarinder Singh, an Aam Aadmi Party sarpanch, was gunned down during a wedding in Sheron village on Wednesday afternoon. The 40-year-old leader from Thathiyan Mahanta village was attending a relative’s marriage when two armed men opened fire, marking the second such assassination of a local AAP official in the district within 60 days.
Witnesses stated that the attack occurred around 3:15 p.m. while the festivities were in full swing. According to reports, three assailants arrived on a motorcycle, and two entered the venue armed with pistols and an automatic weapon. During the struggle, a relative of the deceased, Jermandeep Singh, was injured while attempting to intervene. He is currently receiving medical treatment for his wounds.
The brazen nature of the crime was noted by those present at the scene. “The assailants wore designer suits and didn’t try to hide or escape quietly,” affirmed Kulwant Singh, an eyewitness who observed the shooters before they fled the premises. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede-like situation as guests scrambled for safety, leaving the sarpanch, a father of two young sons and a local commission agent, fatally wounded.
This incident follows the January 5 killing of another AAP sarpanch, Jarmal Singh, who was similarly targeted at a wedding in Amritsar. Law enforcement officials reached the Sheron village venue approximately 20 minutes after the shooting to begin their investigation. Authorities affirmed that they are reviewing security footage and statements to identify the motorcyclists who escaped unchecked.
The Punjab government has maintained a stance of strict action against such lawlessness, though the recurring nature of these attacks has raised concerns among local representatives. Officials declared that a massive manhunt is underway to apprehend the suspects involved in the killing.
