DHILWAN, MAY 1 — Punjab’s organized crime landscape saw fresh violence early Friday as Gurpreet Singh Gopi, a close associate of the late Sukha Kahlwan, was assassinated in his car. Kapurthala police stated that the victim was targeted near Dhilwan on the GT Road, marking what appears to be a calculated hit on the final witness to the 2015 killing of Kahlwan.
Investigators maintained that the gunmen unleashed a barrage of bullets through the vehicle’s windshield in a targeted strike. Gurpreet, who had reportedly refused to retract his witness statement despite pressure from rival gangs, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police affirmed that several rounds were fired during the brief but intense encounter.
“The attackers came from the front of the vehicle and fired several rounds through the windshield,” an eyewitness stated. Local authorities affirmed that the victim’s history as a staunch witness was a primary motive being explored. They noted that most other witnesses in the original murder trial had already withdrawn their statements out of fear.
The investigation has widened following a social media post in which the Donny Ball gang allegedly admitted to the killing. The post described the act as retribution for past gang-related deaths. Law enforcement representatives stated they are analyzing these claims while working to identify the shooters through local surveillance footage.
Officials stated that the incident has prompted a broader discussion on the safety of those testifying against criminal syndicates. They affirmed that the Dhilwan police station is coordinating with forensic experts to gather evidence from the site. Authorities maintained that the preservation of witness integrity remains a top priority, even as rivalries from the 2015 Kahlwan case continue to manifest in lethal violence.
