Tarn Taran encounter: Gangster linked to AAP sarpanch murder in Amritsar killed in encounter
PTC Web Desk: Harnoor Singh, a dreaded gangster with close links to criminal operatives Afridi and Prabh Dassuwal, was shot dead in a police encounter in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district on Tuesday. The police said he was one of the accused in the murder of AAP sarpanch Jarmal Singh, who was gunned down in Amritsar on January 4.
The encounter occurred in the Bhikhiwind area when teams from the Tarn Taran CIA and the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) launched an operation based on specific intelligence inputs. According to officials, Harnoor Singh was riding a motorcycle when police attempted to stop him.
DIG Sneha Deep Sharma said that the suspect abandoned the motorcycle on noticing the police presence and opened fire in a bid to flee. The police retaliated, triggering a brief exchange of gunfire.
During the encounter, a bullet hit one of the police personnel, but the official escaped unhurt as he was wearing a bulletproof jacket. Harnoor Singh sustained multiple gunshot injuries in the retaliatory firing. He was taken to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. A pistol was recovered from the spot.
The police said Harnoor Singh was a resident of the Kathunangal area and played an active role in carrying out ground-level operations for the Prabh Dassuwal–Afridi gang. Investigators believe he had conducted reconnaissance ahead of the murder of sarpanch Jarmal Singh. His precise role in the killing is being examined jointly by Tarn Taran and Amritsar police teams.
Murder at wedding ceremony
Jarmal Singh, the sarpanch of Valthoha village in Tarn Taran, was attending a wedding at Marigold Marriage Palace in Amritsar at the time of the attack. He had arrived at the venue on the invitation of the bride’s brother.
According to CCTV footage, two armed assailants entered the marriage palace from the parking area. One of them was wearing a black hoodie, while the other was dressed in a blue hoodie. The police noted that the attacker in the black hoodie appeared to be on a phone call, raising suspicion that a third person was providing real-time updates about the sarpanch’s location.
AAP Khemkaran MLA Sarvan Singh Dhun was also present at the wedding. He later stated that he had briefly interacted with Jarmal Singh while heading to present shagun. At that time, the MLA’s security personnel were also present.
However, after separating from the MLA, Jarmal Singh went to sit at a dining table with other guests. When the MLA and his security detail moved inside the hall, the sarpanch was left without protection.
Taking advantage of the situation, the assailants approached him. While Jarmal Singh, identifiable by his yellow turban, was seated and eating, one attacker shot him in the head from behind at point-blank range. The second shooter also fired before both fled the scene, waving their weapons.
The firing caused chaos at the wedding venue as guests ran for cover. Jarmal Singh collapsed on the spot and was rushed to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Gangsters claim responsibility
Following the killing, gangsters Dony Bal, Prabh Dassuwal, Afridi Tut and their aides claimed responsibility through a social media post. They alleged that the sarpanch had paid Rs 35 lakh to the police and had their house demolished.
The post further claimed that the gang had warned the sarpanch several times in the past and had earlier made two unsuccessful attempts on his life.
- PTC NEWS
