Tarn Taran sarpanch shot dead in salon

Gurbaxpuri

Tarn Taran, January 14

Awan Kumar Khullar, alias Sonu Cheema, the sarpanch of Adda Chabal village, was shot dead in broad daylight at a village salon here today. He was getting a shave at the salon when an armed assailant pumped two bullets into him.

The deceased was a popular figure in political and social circles of the area as his sister-in-law (wife of younger brother) Vishali is the sarpanch of Cheema Kalan village, the native village of the family. His brother Munish Kumar Khullar, alias Monu Cheema, is also a member of Zila Parishad.

According to the police, Germany-based gangster Amritpal Singh Batth has been found to be involved in the incident. A case has been registered against him and a probe is underway to identify the shooters.

Sonu Cheema was in the hair salon when two masked men reached there, and one entered the salon. The barber was attending to Sonu, and the masked man inquired about his turn. When the barber was done with Sonu and moved to a chair, the assailant shot him. Sonu sustained two bullet injuries, on his stomach and thigh. The assailant escaped on a bike with his accomplice.

Malkiat Singh, an assistant of Sonu, rushed him to a private hospital in Amritsar, where he succumbed to the injuries.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ashwani Kapur said that gangster Batth, who hails from Mianpur, was involved in the killing. He said Batth had around 18 criminal cases of killing, attempt to murder and other heinous crimes registered against him.

SSP Kapur said efforts are on to identify and arrest the killers.