Woman panchayat member, Granthi shot dead

A woman was shot dead in Dhagana village falling under Patti Sadar police station on Diwali night while in another incident, a man gunned down his cousin in Nathupur village early on Wednesday morning.

The woman who was shot dead in Dhagana village has been identified as Mandeep Kaur (40), wife of Jatinder Singh. She was a member of the village panchayat associated with the ruling AAP.

She was killed by one Sukhwinder Singh, former Sarpanch of the village, and is associated with the Congress party.

The police said that the accused under the influence of liquor was on his tractor and was engaged in objectionable activities. Jatinder Singh, husband of Mandeep Kaur, member of panchayat, objected to his activities as he was in the street with his family. Sukhwinder Singh, in a fit of anger, fired at Jatinder Singh and the bullet hit Mandeep Kaur. She was brought to the hospital where the doctors declared her dead. The Patti Sadar police said that a case been registered and the accused is absconding.

In the other incident, Harpal Singh Pala, a resident of Nathuchack village falling under Chohla Sahib police station, gunned down his first cousin on Wednesday morning. The deceased has been identified as Ranjit Singh Rana (38) of the same village, He was the Granthi of Gurdwara Guru Nanaksar Ishardham. In the morning after performing his duties at the Gurdwara, he came to his cousin Harpal Singh Pala, an ex-serviceman who was waiting him with a rifle at the door of his house. He fired at Ranjit Singh Rana who died on the spot. A police team arrived and after collecting the information registered a case in this connection.

The accused in both the incidents are absconding, said the police.