Tarn Taran, February 19 A day after an AAP sarpanch was shot dead by unidentified assailants at a wedding here, the Lakhbir Landa gang claimed responsibility for the killing in an unverified social media post on Thursday.
Police said efforts were being made to trace the assailants.
Harbarinder Singh, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party and sarpanch of the Thathian Mehta village, was shot dead at the wedding from close range by the two assailants on Wednesday. According to police, an AK-47 rifle was used in the attack.
The killing came nearly a month after another sarpanch and AAP leader, Jharmal Singh of Valtoha village in Amritsar district, was shot dead at a wedding.
In the unverified post that surfaced on social media on Thursday, the Lakhbir Landa gang claimed it was behind Harbarinder Singh's killing.
Police had earlier said that the case was being investigated from all possible angles in a scientific and technical manner. They said that based on the investigation so far, there appeared to be no angle of threat or extortion.
The possibility of personal enmity or a revenge angle appeared to be strong, police had said.
Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Lamba on Wednesday assured of a thorough investigation into the matter and exemplary punishment for the culprits.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Patti) Jagbir Singh and Station House Officer (Sarhali) Gurvinder Singh have been suspended in connection with the incident due to the lack of sufficient preventive policing measures.