Punjab Akali Dal Leader Shot Dead; Family Alleges Brother’s Involvement In Land Dispute
Family alleges a land dispute led to the fatal attack.
Former Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Manewal village sarpanch Navtej Singh, alias Neetu, was allegedly killed in a shooting in Punjab’s Ludhiana district. The 60-year-old was travelling in his Toyota Innova when two motorcycle-borne assailants reportedly intercepted the vehicle in the Ladhowal area and opened fire. Singh sustained multiple injuries and was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead.
The incident occurred while Singh was returning towards his residence after visiting his land in Manewal village. Police said the attackers fled after the shooting, and footage from the vehicle’s dashcam is being examined as part of the investigation. CCTV recordings from the surrounding area are also being checked to establish the sequence of events and identify those involved.
A land dispute has emerged as one of the key lines of investigation, although police have not established the motive. Singh’s son, Alamjit Singh, alleged that the killing was connected to a longstanding property dispute involving family members and other parties. He also claimed that he and his father had previously faced threats and named eight people in his complaint, including his uncle, other family members and the current village head.
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Police have registered a case against eight people, including two identified accused and six unidentified persons, based on the complaint. Investigators are examining the land-dispute allegation along with other possible motives and are working to trace the assailants. Officials have also been reviewing forensic evidence and available surveillance footage as the investigation continues.
Singh had served as the sarpanch of Manewal village during the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government and remained associated with local politics. His killing has drawn attention amid other recent attacks involving village-level political figures in Punjab. Authorities are continuing to investigate whether the latest incident was linked to the property dispute or another personal or political grievance.
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