Ferozepur: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gurpreet Singh Gopi, 45, was shot dead by four armed assailants in Mamdot town of Punjab's Ferozepur district on Saturday evening. Another man, identified as Harpreet Singh alias Happy, 22, was injured in the firing and is undergoing treatment.
According to police, Gurpreet Singh and Harpreet were travelling on a motorcycle when attackers travelling in a car allegedly chased them and opened fire. The incident took place in the Mamdot area at around 7:45 pm. The injured were rushed to a hospital, where Gopi was declared dead. Harpreet was subsequently referred for further treatment.
Police Suspect Old Election-Related Dispute
Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said an old dispute between the two sides appears to be behind the attack. An election-related rivalry connected with the recent urban local body elections has emerged as a key angle in the investigation.
Police have identified the alleged attackers and formed multiple teams to track them down. The SSP said the main accused is believed to have a criminal background. Raids are reportedly being conducted at several locations as investigators work to make arrests and establish the exact circumstances behind the killing.
Vicky Maini Also Targeted
The shooting reportedly also involved a vehicle carrying Vicky Maini, the newly elected president of the Mamdot Nagar Panchayat, who was travelling behind Gopi and Harpreet along with others. The attackers allegedly opened fire at that vehicle as well, but Maini and the other occupants escaped unharmed.
Gopi's family also has links to local politics. His father, Balkar Singh, was a former Congress leader, while his sister-in-law was recently elected as a Nagar Panchayat member.
Investigation Underway
Police have registered an FIR based on Harpreet's statement under murder and relevant provisions of the Arms Act. Investigators are examining the suspected rivalry and gathering evidence to determine the sequence of events.
The killing comes less than a year before Punjab's 2027 Assembly elections, adding to concerns over political violence in the state. However, authorities have so far described the election-related rivalry as an investigation angle rather than a conclusively established motive.
