Ashwani Kumar was driving an Innova with his driver, son and accountant when the vehicle approached the outskirts of Toot. As they neared Dana Mandi, two men on a motorcycle burst into gunfire, striking Kumar with multiple bullets. He was immediately taken to a private hospital in Patti, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The attackers, who fled on their bike after firing at least five rounds, left Kumar severely wounded. His assistant, Chamkaur Singh, was also hit and is currently receiving treatment at the same hospital.
The killing comes a day after former sarpanch Navtej Singh was shot dead in Ludhiana in a similar motorcycle ambush, and the same day the Punjabi influencer Mad Sandhu was murdered in Amritsar. All three incidents occurred within a week of each other, amplifying fears of a targeted campaign against political figures.
Tarn Taran district police announced a full investigation. Deputy Inspector General Surinder Kumar said, 'We are tracing the attackers' identities and will uncover the motive behind the murders.' The police plan to review CCTV footage and interview witnesses.
With Punjab’s assembly elections slated for November, security agencies are scrambling to bolster law‑and‑order measures. The state government is expected to convene a cabinet meeting by Friday to address the spike in violence.