Moga: Police have arrested four men in connection with the murder of a village sarpanch from Moga, who was shot dead earlier this month in a brazen attack that shocked the local community. Investigators say the suspects were traced and detained in Leh after they allegedly fled the state following the crime.
The victim, Harvinder Singh, also known as Happy, served as the sarpanch of Patto Hira Singh village. According to police officials, he was gunned down on the morning of March 6 outside a private gym in Baghapurana shortly after arriving at the facility.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Gandhi said the arrests were made after a special team led by the Crime Investigation Agency tracked the suspects’ movements. The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh from Jaimalwala village, Jashanpreet Singh of Chand Purana, Yogesh Sharma from Moga and Harminder Singh alias Hinda of Jai Singh Wala.
Police said the group was detained in Leh and later flown to Chandigarh before being brought to Moga for further questioning.
Investigators believe the attackers used a rented SUV during the shooting before abandoning it and escaping in another vehicle. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing between 15 and 20 gunshots during the attack, leaving the sarpanch critically injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries soon after.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Dalveer Singh said early findings suggest the killing may have been triggered by personal animosity rather than gang rivalry. According to the police, the main accused allegedly suspected that his wife had an affair with the sarpanch, which may have led to the violent confrontation.
Sources also indicated that the victim had reportedly received threats prior to the attack and had even ordered a bulletproof vehicle for protection. However, on the day of the incident he was travelling in his regular SUV.
Police records show that Harvinder Singh had previously faced several criminal cases, with around a dozen FIRs registered against him in the past.
Following the killing, the victim’s family and supporters staged protests at Baghapurana’s main intersection, demanding swift action and the arrest of those responsible.
The case has also sparked political controversy after the family alleged that a local legislator from the Aam Aadmi Party had earlier threatened the sarpanch over the alleged dispute. The MLA has denied the accusation.
The four accused are expected to be produced before a local court in Moga as police continue to investigate whether others were involved in planning the attack.
