AAP leader shot dead in Punjab over municipal election dispute

AAP leader Gurpreet Singh, also known as Gopi, was shot dead by four armed assailants in Punjab's Ferozepur district, police said on Sunday.

Police said the killing was linked to a dispute arising from the recent municipal elections.

The four attackers arrived in a car and opened fire in the main bazaar of Mamdot on Saturday evening. Singh, 45, and Harpreet alias Happy, 22, were travelling on a motorcycle when they were attacked.

Earlier reports had said the two victims were travelling in a car.

According to sources, Vicky Maini, the newly appointed AAP president of Mamdot Nagar Panchayat, was following Singh in another car. The attackers also targeted him, but he escaped unharmed.

Singh and Harpreet were taken to the Civil Hospital after the shooting. Doctors declared Singh brought dead. Harpreet was referred to a private hospital in Ludhiana for further treatment. 

Ferozepur SSP Bhupinder Singh said police have identified the four accused. Several teams have been sent out to arrest them.

The SSP said the shooting was the result of personal enmity connected to the recent municipal council elections.

Singh's father, Balkar Singh, was a former Congress leader. His sister-in-law was also recently elected as a member of the Nagar Panchayat.  (with inputs from PTI)