Gagdewal, 2 December 2024: A dispute over bidding for panchayat land in Gagdewal village, located four kilometres from Khadur Sahib, escalated into violence when Gurjit Singh allegedly fired at Panchayat Sarpanch Harbhajan Singh. The sarpanch escaped unharmed, while the accused remains at large.
The incident occurred during a bidding process for 23 acres of panchayat land, held at the village school in the presence of several villagers. Farmer Hari Singh stated that Gurjit Singh had placed a winning bid of ₹13.5 lakh, which Hari had chosen not to contest, suggesting that the contract should go to Gurjit. However, tensions flared when Gurjit accused Hari of favoritism in the previous year’s bidding process.
According to witnesses, the confrontation turned heated, and when Sarpanch Harbhajan Singh intervened to stop Gurjit from using abusive language, Gurjit allegedly pushed him. Shortly after, an accomplice, Dost Kashmir Singh, drew a revolver and fired two shots at the sarpanch, who narrowly avoided harm by taking cover.
Weroval police have registered a case, and DSP Kamalmeet Singh confirmed that efforts are underway to locate the absconding accused.
