Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Ankhi shot dead in Punjab's Hoshiarpur

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Surjit Singh Ankhi, a former sarpanch, was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified assailants when he was sitting outside a grocery store. The wife of the deceased is the current sarpanch of their village.

Hoshiarpur (Punjab) : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Surjit Singh Ankhi was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified assailants on Thursday evening, police sources said. He was a former sarpanch and the attack was made by unidentified assailants. Deputy Superintendent of Police Talwinder Singh said that the incident occurred when the deceased leader was sitting outside a grocery shop in a nearby locality.

Around 7 PM, Surjit Singh was sitting outside a grocery shop in his locality. Two persons came on a bike and shot four rounds of fire towards Surjit Singh. He was taken to a civil hospital where he was declared brought dead. The deceased SAD leader Surjit Singh was a former Sarpanch of Megowal Ganjian village and currently his wife is holding the same position.

Police said that the reason behind the murder incident is unknown and a search for the unidentified assailants is ongoing. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the murder so far. Further investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, the ruling Aam Aamdi Party and the Congress are locked in a row in Punjab following the latest arrest of the grand old party's MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Khaira's son, Mehtab Singh Khaira, in his social media post, said that his father had been arrested in an eight-year-old drugs case “on direct orders of Punjab CM”.