Gurdaspur (Gurpreet Singh): A former village sarpanch narrowly escaped a suspected targeted attack after unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire outside his residence in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district on Saturday morning. The incident has prompted a detailed police investigation, with officials exploring possible links to earlier threats reportedly received by the victim.
The firing occurred in Kila Lal Singh village near Batala at around 5:30 a.m., when former sarpanch Jasbir Singh Gill was taking a morning walk inside the courtyard of his home. According to his account, two unknown men arrived on a motorcycle, stopped outside the house and fired multiple rounds before fleeing the area within moments.
Gill, associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal, escaped unhurt and immediately informed the local police. He claimed that he had received threatening phone calls on two separate occasions in recent days and had already reported the matter to the authorities, raising concerns that the attack may have been premeditated.
Senior police officials, including DSP Lalit Kumar and SHO Prabhjot Singh, reached the spot soon after receiving the information. The crime scene was inspected, evidence was collected and nearby CCTV cameras were scanned to identify the suspects and trace their movements.
Police officials said every possible angle is being investigated, including personal rivalry and the earlier intimidation calls. While no arrests have been made so far, investigators expressed confidence that technical evidence and surveillance footage would help identify those responsible.
The incident has sparked concern among local residents, with Gill’s family expressing fear following the attack. Security in the area has been heightened as police continue their efforts to track down the assailants and determine the motive behind the firing.
