Armed men shot dead a Nihang Sikh while he was sleeping at the community hall at Kahneke village in Barnala district.
Tapa DSP AR Sharma reached the spot after getting information about the murder of 60-year-old Bahadur Singh.
Singh belonged to the Surjeet Singh group of Nihangs. A group of Nihangs had been camping in the village for the past two days.
The DSP said the other Nihangs were sleeping outside the centre at the time of the crime.
The DSP said they were investigating the matter. He said the police would register an FIR after conducting preliminary investigation.