Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing Ludhiana West in Punjab, tragically passed away on Friday night due to a gunshot wound to the head. His family members said that he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his pistol and was hit in the head, a top police official said. The incident occurred late Friday night at his residence in Dayal Nagar, Ludhiana.

Family members reported hearing a gunshot from his room and found him critically injured. Gogi's family stated he was alone in his room when the incident occurred.

He was immediately transported to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) but was declared dead upon arrival. "He was declared dead. The incident took place around 11.30 pm. Investigation is underway," said the police official, who also added that the official cause of his demise will be resolved only behind the autopsy.

Gogi was an active and influential political figure in Ludhiana, having served three consecutive terms as a municipal councillor from 2007 to 2022. He joined AAP in 2022 and won his seat in the Punjab Legislative Assembly elections, defeating veteran Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 7,500 votes. Known for his hands-on approach, Gogi was deeply involved in developmental activities and garnered significant goodwill among his constituents.

Gogi wrote in his last post on his official Facebook page that he had a meeting with Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and environmentalist Sant Baba Balbir Singh Sichwal to clean a seasonal river called Budh Nala in Punjab's Malwa that was used for drinking and domestic purposes before industrial emissions and other toxic chemicals polluted it.

He also wrote that he had visited the ancient Shitala Mata temple in BRS Nagar, where jewellery worth Rs 40 lakh was stolen recently. He had "assured the priests and temple management that the culprits will be brought to justice." He had also spoken to the Police Commission about the case, urging for speedy action, he wrote.

On Friday, he also attended a Lohri function at the Ludhiana Bar Association, along with state Assembly Speaker Kultar Sandhwan. The incident has sparked discussions about firearm safety and the mental health challenges faced by public officials. Investigations are ongoing, and further updates are expected in the coming days.