Amritsar: In a shocking incident ahead of the final phase of voting for the Lok Sabha election 2024, an AAP leader was shot dead and several others sustained bullet injuries after gunmen opened fire at a party meeting in Lakhuwal village of Ajnala in Amritsar on Friday. 

Reportedly, the attack unfolded when the AAP volunteers gathered in Lakhuwal village to discuss and plan the arrangement for the seventh phase election on June 1. 

AAP leader Deepinder Singh alias Dipu Sarkaria was giving instructions to the party volunteers when two unidentified assailants opened fire and shot the former dead. The reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained. 

The police rushed to the spot and took the body of the deceased in custody for post-mortem which is likely to be conducted today, June 1. An investigation into the matter has been launched to nab the accused, said officials.

Amritsar Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), who visited the site of the incident, stated that they received information about the open firing in Lakhuval village. “Upon arrival, we launched the investigation,” he said. 

The police official confirmed that one young man had died, and four others were injured and have been admitted to a private hospital in Ajnala.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha election will conclude with polling on 57 seats spread across eight states and a Union Territory on June 1. The 13 Lok Sabha seats of the Punjab will also poll in the final phase. The result for the election which spanned almost two months will be declared on June 4.