Chandigarh, Feb 18 (NationPress) In a tragic incident, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch Harbarinder Singh, aged 40, was fatally shot by unknown assailants during a wedding celebration in Punjab's Tarn Taran district on Wednesday. This marks the second murder of a sarpanch in the region in a mere two-month period, according to police reports.

The shooting occurred in broad daylight while Harbarinder Singh, a resident of Thathiyan Mahanta village, was attending his cousin's wedding at a farmhouse on a national highway. Police officials stated that three attackers arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at him, resulting in his immediate death.

A relative present at the event, Germanjeet Singh, was injured while trying to help Harbarinder and has been admitted to a private hospital in Amritsar, where his condition is said to be critical.

Authorities suspect that an automatic weapon, potentially an AK-47, was used in the shooting; however, forensic investigations are ongoing to confirm the specific type of weapon involved. The motive for this heinous act remains unclear.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos as the assailants fired at close range during the wedding festivities, causing panic among the guests. The attackers managed to flee immediately after the shooting, capitalizing on the confusion.

Senior police officials arrived promptly to cordon off the area, and a manhunt has commenced to locate and apprehend those responsible for the murder.

Forensic teams have been dispatched to the crime scene to gather evidence, and CCTV footage from surrounding areas is being scrutinized to identify the perpetrators and reconstruct the sequence of events.

According to eyewitness Kulwant Singh, the assailants evaded capture despite the presence of numerous guests, as attendees fled for safety following the gunfire.

Harbarinder Singh, a commission agent who also owned agricultural land, was an active member of the ruling AAP in the area. He is survived by his wife and two young sons.

Police sources indicated that Harbarinder was engaged in wedding celebrations with relatives when the attackers emerged from the crowd and unleashed a barrage of shots aimed at his upper body.

This incident marks the second assassination of an AAP sarpanch in the region within a short timeframe; the previous victim, Jarmal Singh, was shot dead during a wedding in Amritsar district on January 5.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover the motive behind this attack and whether it is linked to personal grudges, political disputes, or other criminal elements.