PHAGWARA, Nov 27 — Panic gripped Darvesh village in the early hours of Thursday after two masked men opened fire at the residence of AAP leader Daljit Raju, police said. The attack occurred around 1.13 am, with more than a dozen bullets striking the upper floor of the house where Raju, his wife and daughter were asleep.
Glass railings and windows were pierced, but the family was unharmed. “I saw two masked men with pistols firing directly at my home,” Raju told police, adding that he had no dispute with anyone and believed the shooting was meant to intimidate him.
CCTV footage recovered from the spot shows the suspects arriving on a motorcycle, parking near the village gate and walking toward the house before opening fire. One assailant was seen throwing four pages into the premises bearing the message, “Kala Rana Group — 5 crore,” pointing to a possible extortion demand. Empty cartridges were later found scattered around the site.
Two SHOs reached the spot minutes after Raju alerted police. Senior officers, including SP Madhvi Sharma and DSP Bharat Bhushan, inspected the house at daybreak and met the family. Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Halka Incharge Harnoor Singh Maan also visited the residence.
Police have registered a case under Sections 308(5), 61(2), 324(4), 111 of BNS, and the Arms Act at Satnampura police station. SSP Gaurav Toora said investigators were examining “multiple angles, including extortion, gang rivalry and targeted intimidation,” and added that CCTV footage from nearby areas was being analysed.
Patrolling has been stepped up as the search for the suspects continues.
