Phagwara, July 3 — Panic gripped Gandwa village near Phagwara on Wednesday evening after a young man was shot dead in broad daylight by three unidentified assailants in what appears to be a targeted gang-related attack.
The victim has been identified as Navjot Kumar, a resident of the village, who was recently out on bail in a murder case. He was riding his Activa scooter when he was intercepted on a village road by three assailants on a motorcycle, police said.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers opened fire at close range, shooting Navjot multiple times before fleeing the scene. “They stopped him mid-road, fired at least three to four shots, and disappeared within seconds,” said a local resident who witnessed the killing.
Navjot collapsed on the road and was rushed to the civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora, who visited the crime scene, said initial investigations point to an ongoing gang rivalry as the motive. “Navjot Kumar was recently out on bail in a murder case, and initial findings suggest this could be an act of retaliation,” SSP Toora said.
Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti confirmed that a case under Section 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Arms Act has been registered. The victim’s body has been sent for postmortem at the civil hospital mortuary in Phagwara.
A forensic team has collected evidence from the scene, while police are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas and questioning witnesses to track the attackers’ route and identities.
The brazen murder has sent shockwaves through the local community, with villagers demanding swift police action and enhanced law enforcement to curb rising gang violence in the region.
