The ongoing panchayat polls in Punjab have taken a grim turn with escalating violence and bloodshed. In a shocking incident, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker Rajvinder Singh was shot dead in Tarn Taran district on Monday. The fatal attack follows the shooting of an AAP leader in Fazilka just a day earlier, raising concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the region during the elections.   Rajvinder Singh, a resident of Talwandi Mour Singh village and a close aide of Punjab Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was travelling with friends when his car was ambushed near Takkarpur village. Three assailants on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle and opened fire, killing Rajvinder on the spot while his two companions were critically injured. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, where doctors confirmed that Rajvinder succumbed to multiple bullet wounds. The attackers fled the scene after the incident, leaving behind a wave of panic among locals.   Preliminary police investigations suggest that the attack may be linked to local political rivalries intensified by the panchayat polls. According to the police officials, the victim had attended the unanimous election of a woman sarpanch in a village. As he and his friends were returning from the event, the gunmen struck.   Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Tura confirmed that the attackers did not conceal their identities, leading investigators to believe this was a targeted political assassination.   This latest killing comes hot on the heels of another violent episode in Fazilka, where a local AAP leader narrowly survived a shooting outside the office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) in Jalalabad on late Saturday night. Punjab police have already booked two Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, Vardev Singh Noni Mann and Nardev Singh Bobby Mann, along with 15-20 unidentified individuals, in connection with that attack. The recurring violent episodes are casting a dark shadow over the panchayat elections, turning once peaceful contests into dangerous battlegrounds.   Adding to the complexity, a notorious criminal gang led by Gopi Ghanshyampuria has claimed responsibility for Rajvinders murder. In a viral social media post, the gang stated that the killing was in retaliation for past grievances involving Rajvinders alleged association with individuals who had wronged them. The gangs message warned of further attacks, signaling a growing nexus between political violence and organized crime in the state.   As fear spreads across the Tarn Taran district, Punjabs political landscape grows increasingly volatile. Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, visibly shaken by the murder of his close associate, expressed deep sorrow and demanded swift justice. Bhullar has urged the police to apprehend the culprits without delay, asserting that such acts of violence threaten the very fabric of Punjabs democracy.   AAP Blames Cong, Akalis for the Murder   Expressing grief over the murder of AAP worker Rajvinder Singh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday pointed fingers at the Congress and SAD for the bloodshed. Senior AAP leaders, including MP Malvinder Singh Kang, Jagat Singh Sanghera, and Neel Garg, before addressing the media, observed two minutes of silence in Rajvinders memory, and extended condolences to his family, vowing that the party and the Punjab Government will ensure justice.   Kang emphasized that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators, affirming that the government stands firm with Singhs family during this tragic time. He claimed that the SAD and Congress parties are responsible for disrupting peaceful elections in Punjab, accusing them of using violence and arming Punjabs youth. He noted that the Mann government had deliberately kept elections free from party affiliations to prevent such political hostilities in villages, but rival parties have continued to incite conflict.   Further lambasting Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, Kang accused them of hypocrisy by shedding crocodile tears while inciting violence. Kang praised the Mann Government for its efforts to maintain peace and conduct free and fair elections, despite attempts by opposition parties to destabilize the democratic process.   As Punjab mourns yet another victim of political violence, AAP has vowed to bring those responsible to justice.    Cong Vows to Challenge AAPs Manipulation of Panchayat Polls; Slams Mann Govt   Punjab Congress has mounted a fierce attack on the AAP government, accusing it of gross manipulation and lawlessness in the ongoing panchayat elections. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa both voiced strong criticism of Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns administration for compromising the democratic process and inciting violence.   Warring alleged that AAP was systematically destroying democracy by manipulating the election process. AAP promised change, but it has only ruined Punjab. Democracy is being sabotaged in the state under CM Manns leadership, Warring remarked. He accused AAP of delaying the panchayat elections deliberately and using unfair practices to suppress opposition candidates. He also condemned the growing violence against opposition leaders, citing the recent attack on former MLA Kulbir Singh Zira, allegedly orchestrated by a police officer aligned with AAP.   The Congress chief vowed legal action, stating, We will not tolerate these malpractices. We will go to court to challenge AAPs misuse of power and ensure justice is served. He further claimed that police officials aiding AAP in this electoral manipulation will be held accountable. Warring accused AAP of using administrative and police machinery to reject opposition candidates nominations and influence reserved village lists.   Echoing Warrings sentiments, Bajwa lashed out at the AAP government for the spiraling violence during the polls. Bajwa highlighted two major incidents — the death of a Congress workers mother in Amritsar and the murder of an AAP worker in Tarn Taran — blaming both on the breakdown of law and order. These incidents expose the Mann governments failure to maintain peace, Bajwa said, adding that gangsters, under the patronage of AAP leaders, are intimidating opposition candidates across rural Punjab.   Mincing no words, Bajwa also accused the police and Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs) of being complicit with AAP in intimidating opposition candidates. The police and BDPOs are no longer neutral but are working under AAPs influence, he added, calling the elections a mockery of democracy.   Both leaders reaffirmed Congresss commitment to restoring fairness in the electoral process, with Warring stating that those involved in tarnishing democracy will be held accountable in court.   SAD Accuses AAP of Vitiating Election Process, Seeks SEC Intervention   Alleging that the ongoing panchayat election process in Punjab had been severely compromised by the ruling AAP, SAD on Monday accused the state government of blocking opposition candidates from filing their nominations. SAD has demanded urgent corrective action from the State Election Commission (SEC) and warned of approaching the High Court if justice is not served.   A SAD delegation, led by Daljit Singh Cheema and including leaders NK Sharma, Arshdeep Kler, Harjit Bhullar, and SS. Walah, met with State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary to present a memorandum outlining numerous instances of election irregularities. Cheema said that the opposition candidates were systematically denied their right to contest, with hundreds having their nomination papers unjustly rejected.   The party has called for the deployment of senior officers as Observers in all districts, along with comprehensive videography at all polling booths to ensure transparency. SAD also demanded strict action against AAP leaders and government officials allegedly acting as henchmen for AAP ministers and legislators.   Highlighting specific cases, Cheema cited Dera Bassi, where 91 nominations for Sarpanch and 204 for Panch were rejected. In Kurli village, the entire opposition withdrew after all their nominations were invalidated. Cheema also referred to the rejection of a SC candidates papers in Mohali over a non-existent water connection issue.   SAD legal wing head Arshdeep Kler stated that the partys legal cell is addressing complaints and preparing to take the matter to the High Court if the SEC fails to act. The delegation also criticized the SEC for its inaction regarding earlier complaints of intimidation and violence against opposition candidates.   The party urged immediate steps to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

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