AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi dies of bullet wound in Ludhiana

Police say it was an accidental fire, the incident took place when legislator was cleaning his licensed weapon

- Tarsem Singh Deogan

LUDHIANA: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, 58, died after sustaining a gunshot wound in his head at his house in Dayal Nagar of Ghumar Mandi, Ludhiana, on Friday night.

He was cremated at the cremation ground near KVM School on Saturday afternoon. He was accorded a gun salute by the Punjab Police.

Family members told the police that the MLA had retired to his room after dinner. After some time, they heard a gunshot and rushed to his room and found him bleeding. He was rushed to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), but he succumbed on the way around midnight.

On being informed, commissioner of police Kuldeep Singh Chahal and deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal reached the hospital.

Police said it was an accidental fire. The MLA was cleaning his licensed weapon when it went off.

Earlier in the day, Gogi had participated in a cleanliness drive of the local Buddha Nullah that was attended by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and environmentalist and AAP MP Balbir Singh Seechewal. He had also visited Prachin Sheetla Mata Mandir, which was targeted by burglars two days ago, and assured devotees of action. The post-mortem was conducted at DMCH by a team of five doctors from the civil hospital. The post-mortem report revealed that the bullet hit Gogi on the right side of the head and pierced through the left side. Police found his licensed pistol at the house.