Former Sarpanch Navtej Singh Shot Dead by Bike-Borne Assailants in Ludhianaਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਸਰਪੰਚ ਨਵਤੇਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਗੋਲੀ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਹੱਤਿਆ

A former village sarpanch was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants near Ladhowal in Ludhiana early on Sunday morning, in the second high-profile killing reported in Punjab within two days.

The shooting near Ladhowal

Navtej Singh, in his sixties, was driving alone in his Innova from Manewal village to his city residence in Krishna Nagar when the two assailants intercepted his vehicle near the Punjab Agro farm at around 6 am and opened fire before fleeing on the same motorcycle, police said. He was rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.

Who was Navtej Singh

According to Inspector Sukhwinder Singh, the Station House Officer of the Ladhowal police station, Navtej Singh had served as the sarpanch of Manewal village during the Shiromani Akali Dal–Bharatiya Janata Party government. In later years, he extended political support to both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, the officer said.

Police investigation under way

The police are recording the family’s statement and registering an FIR for murder against the unidentified assailants at the Ladhowal police station. The motive behind the killing was not immediately known, and no arrests had been reported at the time of filing. Officers said further details would emerge as the investigation progresses.

Law-and-order spotlight

The murder comes a day after Punjabi influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu was shot dead in Amritsar, a killing that drew wide media coverage. Two shootings in as many days have sharpened the spotlight on Punjab’s law-and-order situation, with the opposition Akali Dal already attacking the AAP government over recent killings in the state.

The targeted killing of a former elected village head, coming on the heels of the Amritsar murder, is likely to fuel fresh political debate in the state, where the opposition has repeatedly accused the government of failing to curb violent crime. Police said they would share more information as the probe advances.

Who was Navtej Singh?

Navtej Singh was the former sarpanch of Manewal village near Ludhiana. Police said he served as sarpanch during the Shiromani Akali Dal–BJP government and later extended political support to both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.

Where did the shooting take place?

The attack happened near the Punjab Agro farm in the Ladhowal area of Ludhiana at around 6 am on Sunday, while Navtej Singh was driving alone in his Innova from Manewal village to his residence in Krishna Nagar.

What has the police said so far?

The Ladhowal police are recording the family’s statement and registering a murder FIR against the two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants. No motive has been established and no arrests had been reported.

Update: cousin among seven booked

In a fresh development, Ludhiana police have booked seven people, including a cousin of the victim, in connection with the murder of former Manewal sarpanch Navtej Singh, the Hindustan Times reported on October 5.

Singh, 60, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants near Ladhowal on Saturday evening. His son Alamjit Singh had earlier named eight people, including his uncle Pal Singh and the current village head, in a police complaint alleging a land dispute behind the killing.