Former Akali sarpanch shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Ludhiana

In Ludhiana, Punjab, two assailants on a motorcycle killed a former village sarpanch, Navtej Singh, in the early hours of Saturday. The 60-year-old victim was shot while driving along a road near the Punjab Agro farm in Ladhowal. The criminal act unfolded around 6 am, as Navtej journeyed alone from Manewal village to his home in Krishna Nagar.

Two unknown men ambushed his vehicle and discharged shots before fleeing the area. Navtej was promptly taken to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where medical professionals pronounced him dead upon arrival. Inspector Sukhwinder Singh, the Station House Officer of the Ladhowal police station, revealed that Navtej had previously held the position of sarpanch in Manewal village during the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) regime.

He also extended political backing to the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) subsequent to his tenure. The police are presently collecting the family's account and filing a murder case against the unidentified perpetrators at the Ladhowal police station.