Gangster gunned down: AAP sarpanch murder suspect killed in Tarn Taran encounter; pistol seized

AMRITSAR: An accused linked to the recent murder of AAP sarpanch Jarmal Singh in Amritsar was gunned down in an exchange of fire with police in the Bhikhiwind area of Tarn Taran district on Tuesday, Punjab Police said.

The suspect, identified as Harnur alias Noor, was a key associate of foreign-based gangster Prabh Dasuwal, who had claimed responsibility for the killing in a purported social media post



Jarmal Singh, the sarpanch of Valtoha village in Tarn Taran district, was attending a wedding ceremony at a resort when two unidentified gunmen entered the venue and shot him in the head on Jan 4.


Deputy inspector general (DIG) Snehdeep Sharma told mediapersons that Noor, a resident of Kathunangal, played a crucial role in reconnaissance and planning. "His exact role in the execution is still under investigation in coordination with Amritsar police," the DIG said.

The encounter occurred when teams of CIA staff and Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) were patrolling the area following specific intelligence about a wanted shooter travelling on a motorcycle.

When police attempted to stop him, Noor abandoned the bike and opened fire, prompting retaliatory action, police said. During the crossfire, a policeman was struck by a bullet but was saved by his bulletproof jacket.

Noor sustained critical injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, the DIG said.

DIG Sharma said Noor worked as a field operative for Dasuwal and gangster Afridi. He was also part of a criminal module involved in a conspiracy to kill Congress leader Harman Sekhon in Tarn Taran. Police arrested four shooters linked to this module earlier.

A pistol was recovered from Noor's possession, police said, adding that investigations are continuing, and leads shared with other agencies to dismantle the wider network operating under foreign-based gangsters.