Sudhir Suri, a Hindutva right-wing leader, was killed this afternoon in Amritsar. Suri, the leader of a local party under the name Shiv Sena, was protesting outside a temple over a management disagreement when at least five rounds were fired from a pistol, purportedly by a local merchant.

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Shiv Sena members rush to Sudhir Suri’s aide after the leader was shot-

He was protected by police, but the attacker was able to fire at least two rounds that killed him before he could be taken to a hospital, according to the BBC. The attacker, identified as Sandeep Singh was apprehended quickly, and the pistol was recovered, according to the local police commissioner, who did not provide further details.

According to reports, the shooting took place in a residential area. The Shiv Sena chief was attacked while speaking with a police official.

Suri was supposedly on a target list, and he had already been outfitted with a large posse of protection. 

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Suri made headlines last year after being detained on charges of using insulting words against a specific population and inciting religious feelings.

He had shared a video on social media in which he and several of his companions can be heard speaking derogatory things about the neighbourhood.

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The murder comes just months after the May murder of another notable person with police security, musician Sidhu Moosewala, prompting concerns about law and order under Bhagwant Mann’s Aam Aadmi Party, which took office in March.

In addition, a number of right-wing or religious leaders, especially from Hindutva organisations, were killed in 2016 and 2017 while the Akali Dal-BJP and the Congress were each in office.