Punjab AAP sarpanch shoots self dead after posting Punjabi poem on Facebook

Credit: @ParmeetBidowali / X

Jashan Bawa, a 27-year-old sarpanch of Tarida village in the Guru Harsahai assembly constituency of Punjab’s Ferozepur district and a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), died by suicide late Saturday night, The Tribune reported.

He allegedly shot himself using his licensed pistol. According to a TOI report, Bawa was a respected figure in the area, known for his active involvement in social causes and village development. Many villagers admired his leadership and his enthusiasm for community service.

In addition to his political work, he was also a talented kabaddi player. His father, Tarsem Lal, described him as a spirited young man with a sportsman’s "never-give-up" attitude. “We don’t know what was going in his mind. Yesterday, we had dinner together around 9.30 pm following which he went to his room saying he was going to sleep, but later, he went to the washroom and shot himself,” The Tribune quoted Lal as saying.

Before taking the tragic step, Bawa shared an emotional poem by Punjabi poet Parkash Sathi on his Facebook page. The post was later seen by many as a hint at his troubled state of mind. Some of his close friends revealed that he had been feeling hurt and disappointed in recent days, allegedly due to being ignored or sidelined by certain senior leaders within the AAP, TOI reported.

Bawa was unmarried and lived with his brother and parents. The exact reason behind the incident could not be ascertained.

As news of Bawa’s death spread, hundreds of people from nearby villages gathered at his home. Many demanded a thorough investigation into the reasons behind his suicide.

Some villagers even called for postponing his cremation to allow time for authorities to investigate the circumstances more deeply. However, the family eventually decided to go ahead with the last rites.