Sarpanch shot dead in Hoshiarpur, old rivalry suspected

Eyewitnesses said three persons came on a motorcycle, one of whom shook hands with the sarpanch before opening fire.

The sarpanch of Dadiana Kalan, Sandip Kumar Chhina, 45, was shot dead by assailants at his cement block plant in Dosarka village on Thursday; Chhina was taken to a nearby private hospital where he was declared brought dead

Sarpanch of Dadiana Kalan Sandip Kumar Chhina. (Harpreet Kaur/HT Photo)

Eyewitnesses said three persons came on a motorcycle, one of whom shook hands with the sarpanch before opening fire.

Chhina was taken to a nearby private hospital where he was declared brought dead. His body was later shifted to the Hoshiarpur civil hospital for postmortem, where a large number of his supporters gathered and started a demonstration against the police and state government.

The incident is suspected to be a fallout of an old rivalry, said the police.

Superintendent of police Sarabjit Singh Bahia said a case under Section 302 of the IPC had been registered against Anoop Kumar Vicky of Asalpur, Munish Kumar and one unidentified person. He said raids were being conducted to arrest the accused. The police also released photographs of Anoop Kumar and Munish Kumar seeking public assistance in tracing them.