Punjab AAP Leader Shot Dead After Bike Chase; Police Cite Old Dispute, Election Angle

The killing of a local Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Punjab's Mamdot town has triggered a police investigation, with officials citing an old dispute and a possible election-related motive behind the attack.

Gurpreet Singh Gopi, an AAP leader, died after armed assailants opened fire on the motorcycle he was travelling on, police said on Saturday. The incident took place in Mamdot, a town in the Fazilka district of Punjab.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, Gopi and another man, identified as Harpreet, were riding a motorcycle when the attackers, who were in a car, chased them and opened fire. Gopi was killed in the attack, while Harpreet reportedly escaped unhurt.

Police said that some of Gopi's friends were following them in a separate car at the time. The assailants also fired at that vehicle, but no injuries were reported from that shooting. Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the firing on the car to piece together the full sequence of events.

SSP Sidhu said that an old dispute between the two sides was the primary reason for the attack. “The two parties had an old dispute. The attackers have been identified and our teams have been formed. We will arrest them as soon as possible,” he said. He added that the main accused in the case has a criminal background and is known to be involved in unlawful activities.

Police have also said that an election-related dispute is emerging as a key angle in the investigation. Given that the victim was a local leader of a political party, the alleged motive has added a political dimension to the case, and officials have not ruled out any possibility.

Multiple police teams have been formed to arrest the accused, and raids are being conducted at various locations. Investigators are also looking into the past history of disputes involving the victim and the accused to establish a clear pattern.

The killing has raised fresh concerns about law and order in Punjab, a state that has witnessed political violence in the past. The alleged election angle is also likely to bring the issue into the political spotlight, with rival parties expected to question the law and order situation.

As the investigation progresses, the police have appealed to the public not to resort to speculation and have assured that all legal procedures will be followed. No arrest has been made so far, and the authorities have stated that further details will be shared as the matter develops.