Amritsar, Jan 6:The Amritsar police on Monday said they have identified the shooters involved in the killing of Jarmal Singh, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch from Valtoha Sandhua village in Tarn Taran district, and that raids are underway to arrest them.
Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the investigation was moving at a fast pace. “At present, I can only say that we have identified the shooters and they will be arrested soon. All possible angles are being examined,” he said.
Jarmal Singh was shot dead on Sunday evening while attending a wedding ceremony in his village. Two armed assailants opened fire, hitting him in the head and killing him on the spot. The function was also attended by ruling AAP legislator Sarwan Singh Dhun.
Soon after the murder, foreign-based gangsters Donny Bal and Prabh Dassuwal, associated with the Bambiha gang, claimed responsibility for the killing in a social media post. They alleged that Singh was murdered by their shooter, Gangu Thackarpuria, and claimed they had made two earlier attempts on his life, which he had survived.
Police officials, however, said the claims were yet to be verified. “Such posts are being examined as part of the investigation, but nothing can be confirmed at this stage,” a senior officer said.
Sources said Jarmal Singh had been receiving threats from foreign-based gangster Prabh Dassuwal for nearly a year, and Sunday’s attack was the fourth attempt on his life.
Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (Anti-Gangster Task Force) Parmod Ban held a situation review meeting with senior officers from the Border Range, Ferozepur Range and the Amritsar City Police Commissionerate to assess the security scenario.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Ban said foreign-based gangsters were increasingly using local youths to carry out crimes. “Gangsters operating from abroad should know that their time is limited. They believe they can’t be touched, but we are in constant touch with central agencies, which are taking up the matter with the countries where they are hiding,” he said.
“I assure you that they will be brought back to India to face the law,” Ban added.
