Gangster involved in village head’s murder killed in police encounter in Punjab
Amritsar, : In a major development linked to the sensational killing of a village head at a wedding function, Punjab Police on Tuesday shot dead gangster Harnur Singh in an encounter in Tarn Taran district. Harnur Singh was allegedly involved in the murder of village head Jarmel Singh, who was gunned down in broad daylight at a marriage venue in Amritsar district on Sunday.
According to police sources, Harnur Singh was travelling on a motorcycle when a police team intercepted him and asked him to stop. Instead of complying, the gangster allegedly opened fire at the police personnel. One bullet reportedly hit a police officer, but he escaped unhurt as he was wearing a bulletproof jacket. In retaliatory firing, the police shot Harnur Singh, leaving him seriously injured.
He was immediately shifted to a nearby civil hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police officials said the encounter took place during a routine operation to track down suspects involved in the high-profile murder case that has shaken Punjab’s law-and-order machinery.
Investigators have stated that Harnur Singh was an associate of notorious gangsters Afridi and Prabha Dasuwal and was part of the conspiracy behind the killing of Jarmel Singh, the village head of Valtoha. Jarmel Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants during a wedding ceremony at the Marigold Marriage Palace in Valtoha village on Sunday afternoon around 2.30 pm.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that Jarmel Singh was seated on a chair below the stage when two men, who appeared like ordinary guests and were not wearing masks, approached him. One of them suddenly pulled out a pistol and fired at close range, killing him on the spot. As shocked guests looked on, the attackers fled the scene with ease, raising serious questions about security arrangements.
Subsequently, police teams rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. Reports later emerged that gangster Prabha Dasuwal and some of his associates had claimed responsibility for the murder, indicating a deep-rooted gang rivalry or politically motivated conspiracy.
The murder has triggered a major political storm in Punjab. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government of failing to maintain law and order and has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Opposition leaders have alleged that criminal gangs are operating with impunity across the state.
Khemkaran MLA Sarvan Singh Dhun, who was present at the wedding, said he had been with Jarmel Singh shortly before the incident. “We were together and had tea. I then went inside the hall for lunch, while Jarmel Singh remained outside with other guests. Suddenly, gunshots were heard,” he recalled.
The killing and the subsequent encounter have once again brought Punjab’s growing gang violence and security challenges into sharp focus.
