Amritsar Sahib/Tarn Taran, February 6 – A longstanding dispute over the panchayat position turned deadly today in Cheema Khurd village, Khemkaran, Tarn Taran, as the sitting sarpanch, Gurbhej Singh, was brutally murdered. The attack was carried out by former sarpanch Sharanjit Singh and his associates, who were armed with sharp weapons.
Police have taken possession of the body and initiated the postmortem process. Preliminary investigations indicate that Sharanjit Singh was a candidate in the upcoming panchayat elections, and the attack stemmed from a longstanding enmity with Gurbhej Singh. The deceased sarpanch, a retired army officer, had secured the support of the village residents and MLA Sarwan Singh Dhun, which reportedly fueled Sharanjit Singh’s anger.
Sharanjit Singh, who previously had ties with the Congress party, had joined the Aam Aadmi Party a few years ago. Despite this, he was upset over not being allotted the panchayat post. Today, while Gurbhej Singh was inspecting ongoing development works in the village, Sharanjit Singh, along with his uncle Pratap Singh and other accomplices, arrived at the site armed with firearms and sharp weapons.
According to Gurbhej Singh’s brother, Gurchet Singh, the assailants first harassed him in front of villagers. When the sarpanch intervened, Sharanjit Singh and Pratap Singh allegedly restrained him and attacked him with sharp weapons. Gurbhej Singh was critically injured and rushed to Anand Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
SSP Surender Lamba stated that DSP Jagjit Singh Chahal reached the spot, and based on Gurchet Singh’s statement, a murder case has been registered against Sharanjit Singh and his associates. The body will be handed over to the family after the postmortem on Friday.
