CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party MLA from (Ludhiana West) assembly constituency, Gurpreet Gogi died under mysterious circumstances due to an "accidental" fire from a weapon.
Sources said that the 58-year-old Gurpreet Gogi died from a gunshot wound to the head as per the family members around 12 am. He was rushed to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital where he was declared brought dead.
His wife, who was in another room, heard the gunshots and found him lying in a pool of blood. On hearing the bullet sound, she rushed to inquire and found him lying in a pool of blood. Gogi's gunmen immediately rushed him to the hospital.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jaskaran Singh Teja said, "The incident took place around midnight and he was declared brought dead at the DMC hospital. We are investigating the matter.’’ Teja said the bullet was fired from Gogi's licensed pistol.
Later today, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Punjab AAP president and state cabinet minister Aman Arora besides many ministers and MLAs went to his house and paid condolences to the bereaved family and also attended his cremation at the Model Town cremation ground in Ludhiana where thousands of mourners, including locals, gathering to pay their last respects. The last rites were performed by his son.
CM Mann described Gogi as a hardworking, dedicated and committed colleague. He said that it was a huge personal loss for him and an irreparable loss for the Aam Aadmi party, as Gogi was a committed foot soldier of the party. Mann said that Gogi had worked tirelessly for the well-being of people, especially of his constituency. He said that he was saddened to learn about the death of Gogi adding that the deceased leader has left a void in AAP and in the hearts of the people.
It is learnt that yesterday he had met with Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan as well as MP Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal in Ludhiana for a cleanliness drive of Buddha Nullah. While last year Gogi had destroyed the foundation stone of a pipeline project in Buddha Nullah as in 2022 he had laid the foundation stone, the reason was that he was upset over the delay in the project.
He also visited Prachin Sheetla Mata Mandir yesterday and promised devotees that he would take action against the burglars who had stolen silver from the temple a couple of days ago.
Gogi joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2022 and defeated two-time former Congress MLA and then-sitting cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu during the assembly elections. He served as MC councillor at least twice before becoming MLA. He had remained the Congress district (Urban) president as well.
He also served as the chairman of the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation during the previous Congress regime. Gogi was the Ludhiana district Congress (urban) president from 2014 to 2019. He had caught the attention when he came on a scooter to file his nomination papers for the 2022 assembly polls.
His wife Sukhchain Kaur Gogi was also a contestant in the recent Municipal Corporation elections but lost to Congress candidate Inderjit Singh Indi.
Punjab AAP President and state cabinet minister Aman Arora had earlier written on X, "Shocked and heartbroken by the loss of Sh. Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, MLA from Ludhiana. My deepest condolences to the grieving family during this difficult time. May they find the strength to endure this painful loss. I pray to the Almighty that his noble soul rests in eternal peace.’’