Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has issued urgent directives to the state's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav to accelerate the investigation into the brazen killing of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch Jarmal Singh. The murder, which took place at a wedding function in Amritsar on Sunday, has triggered a political firestorm with opposition parties mounting severe criticism on the state's law and order situation.
Chief Minister's Directives and Political Response
On Monday, CM Bhagwant Mann held a telephonic review with the state police chief, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards such crimes. He instructed the police to immediately identify and arrest the assailants responsible for the attack, vowing strict action. This order came even as Punjab Minister and AAP state president, Aman Arora, visited the grieving family of the deceased sarpanch in Valtoha village, Tarn Taran.
Arora assured the family of the government's full support and promised that no one involved in the "heinous crime" would be spared. He praised Jarmal Singh as a selfless and noble-hearted leader who was always ready to help people from his village and the wider area.
Details of the Brazen Attack
Jarmal Singh, the AAP-affiliated sarpanch of Valtoha village, was shot dead at point-blank range on Sunday evening. The incident occurred at a resort on Amritsar's Verka Bypass where he was attending a wedding celebration. CCTV footage from the marriage palace has surfaced, showing two unidentified men dressed in hoodies and jeans walking calmly through the wedding crowd. The attackers reportedly posed as guests to blend in before executing their target.
Mounting Criticism from Opposition
The killing has provided fresh ammunition to opposition parties who have launched a scathing attack on the Bhagwant Mann-led government. Punjab Congress president, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, alleged that criminal gangs are now operating with impunity in the state, no longer fearing to mask their faces during such public executions. He claimed these acts are now flaunted to enhance extortion rates and power.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh called for all political parties to unite to protect Punjab from "anti-national forces and criminal networks" which he said are flourishing under the present regime. He asserted that people are more frightened today than during the peak years of militancy.
Adding to the criticism, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, stated that CM Mann has "failed" as both chief minister and home minister and has no right to continue in office. She cited a "complete collapse of law and order," pointing to a series of recent crimes including the murder of an NRI woman in Kapurthala and a panchayat member in Moga.
The incident has put the spotlight squarely on the Punjab government's ability to maintain security, with pressure mounting for swift justice and tangible results in curbing gang-related violence.
