Amritsar: A man was shot dead and his friend injured after a group of men allegedly opened fire on them in Cheeta village of Amritsar district on Monday evening, police said. The victims, Tirath Singh and Ranjeet Singh, had arrived in the village to offer prayers when they were attacked, Amritsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal said, according to ANI.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

"A shooting incident occurred in a village called Cheeta. An individual named Tirath and a friend of his had arrived to offer prayers when they were attacked by a group of men who opened fire. Seven to eight rounds were discharged; Tirath Singh was struck by a bullet and was pronounced dead upon being taken to the hospital. His friend, Ranjeet Singh, also sustained injuries," SSP Chahal said. He said there was a long-standing personal enmity behind the attack.

Source: ANI via DevDiscourse

FIR naming alleged attackers, hunt on

The SSP said police had identified the alleged attackers and were registering an FIR naming specific individuals, including Gurjit Singh, Gurjant Singh, Harkir Singh (alias Haki), a man known as 'Gora', and the village Nambardar. Attari Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Yadwinder Singh said Ranjeet Singh, who sustained a bullet injury, was undergoing treatment and was out of danger, teams had been formed to arrest the accused, and no arrests had been made so far. The DSP said preliminary investigation suggested an old animosity over a land dispute and ruled out political rivalry. All the named men are alleged attackers; the allegations have not been established in court.

Source: 7Globe (TOI report)

According to police and media reports, Tirath Singh's brother Karaj Singh is a Block Samiti member and his mother is the village sarpanch associated with the Aam Aadmi Party. The killing drew a political reaction from former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, who in a post on X criticised the AAP government over law and order in Punjab — that is Bittu's political criticism, reported by 7Globe; the state government had not responded in the reporting available so far.

Source: National Times Media