Shiromani Akali Dal activist, wife shot dead in Punjab's Sangrur; police book four, including ex-Congress councillor

Chandigarh: The Punjab Police launched a manhunt on Monday after a prominent Shiromani Akali Dal activist and businessman was shot dead along with his wife in Sangrur town in Punjab. The police have registered a case against four people, including a former Congress councillor, for the attack.

Representational image. Reuters

The incident took place late on Sunday night after the victim, Charant Garg and wife Pooja, left their house.

They were followed by four people in another car who intercepted Garg's car near Sardar Basti locality. They were shot dead from point-blank range, the police said. Both victims were shot in the head.

The police have booked four people — Jaidev, Rakesh Sharma, Pradeep Sharma and former councillor Pompy. Investigators believe that the reason behind the double murder is a dispute over money that the attackers owed Garg.

A realtor by profession, Garg was considered close to senior Akali Dal leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (a former Union Minister) and Parminder Singh Dhindsa (a former finance minister in Punjab).

Shiromani Akali Dal leaders blamed the ruling Congress for the growing lawlessness in the state.

The police said Garg bore injury marks on his body, which indicated that he was assaulted before being shot dead.