Ferozepur: AAP leader Gurpreet Singh, also known as Gopi, was shot dead by four armed assailants in this district, with police stating on Sunday that the killing was linked to an election-related dispute.

The four attackers stepped out of their car in the main bazaar of Mamdot on Saturday evening and opened fire at 45-year-old Singh and 22-year-old Harpreet, also known as Happy, who were riding a motorcycle.

Initial reports had indicated that the victims were travelling in a car.

According to sources, the newly appointed president of Mamdot Nagar Panchayat, Vicky Maini from the AAP, was trailing Singh in a separate vehicle. He was also targeted during the attack but escaped unhurt, sources added.

The injured men were rushed to the Civil Hospital, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was declared brought dead, whilst Harpreet was transferred to a private hospital in Ludhiana.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhupinder Singh stated that authorities have identified the suspects and dispatched police teams to arrest them.

The SSP noted that the shooting stemmed from personal enmity connected to the recent municipal council elections.

Singh's father, Balkar Singh, was a former Congress leader, whilst his sister-in-law was also recently elected as a member of the nagar panchayat.

PTI