Newly elected sarpanch shot dead at Lalu Ghuman village

Newly elected sarpanch of Lalu Ghuman village identified as Partap Singh (65) was shot dead on Sunday. His friend Budh Singh was injured in the firing incident. A panchayat election conflict is cited as the reason behind the murder.

Partap Singh was the elder brother of controversial figure Resham Singh Malmohari who was the front-rung militant leader during the militancy. He was associated with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Partap Singh along with his friend Budh Singh were on way back home after attending bhog ceremony of a woman at a gurdwara in Lalu Ghuman village. The assailant, who was waiting for them on a motorcycle near the shrine, fired six to seven rounds at sarpanch and his friend from the back. Passersby tried to nab the assailant, but he managed to escape from the spot on his motorcycle. A police party from Chabal led by Inspector Paramjit Singh reached the spot. SSP Abhimanyu Rana along with his subordinate officials too visited the spot and collected details of the incident.

The family of the deceased sarpanch alleged that he was murdered due to lapse on the part of the police. The family said soon after winning the election, Partap Singh was receiving regular threats from his rivals. He brought the matter to the notice of the police, but officials did not take it seriously, said the family of the deceased. On the statement of the victim’s family, seven persons were booked under Sections 103 (2) of the BNS and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act by name. Budh Singh (63) is under treatment at the local civil hospital.