Sarpanch shot dead, threats from gangsters cripple working of Lalu Ghuman panchayat
The terror of gangsters has gripped Lalu Ghuman village panchayat. Nearly two months have passed since the panchayats were freshly elected in the state after the polls but the members of Lalu Ghuman village panchayat have been hesitant to even hold their first meeting till date. Village Sarpanch Partap Singh (75) was shot dead by the gangsters on November 17, two days before the oath-taking ceremony for the Sarpanches at a state-level function addressed by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Four of the total nine elected members (panches) have been forced to tender resignation from their posts and the others too are being threatened to resign.
Partap Singh had been receiving threats by gangster Amritpal Singh Bath of Mianpur village during the election process. He was asked not to contest the election but he took the threat lightly and was shot dead in the village by a motorcyclist on November 17. On the basis of the statement of Baljinder Singh, son of the Sarpanch, a case against eight persons, including two gangsters based abroad, was registered by Chabal police.
Jagjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghbir Singh and Harinderjit Singh, the four panchayat members who have said that they have been receiving threats from gangster Amritpal Singh Bath to resign and were even threatened with being killed, refused to act as per their instructions. Baljinder Singh said that the family is living under great fear as gangster Amritpal Singh Bath was threatening the family against registering a police case against the killing. He said that though the district police have provided the family with two security guards, they have been receiving threats regularly by the gangsters. Baljinder Singh said that of the total eight accused nominated as accused in the case, only one person has been arrested till date and the family was feeling insecure.
The elected members of the panchayat have not even convened their first meeting to authorise a Panch, to work on behalf of the Sarpanch, due to threats received from gangsters.
Gurmukh Singh, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Tarn Taran, when contacted, first denied that any member of Lalu Ghuman village panchayat had resigned but at the same time, called this correspondent to his office to tell the reality. He said that the Sarpanch was shot dead and the panchayat is yet to start its working. Kamalmeet Singh, DSP, Tarn Taran, said that the police was conducting raids to arrest the other accused in the case but they were absconding and their houses were locked.
