Chandigarh Grapples with Third Gun Violence Incident in Five Days, Minors Involved
Chandigarh was rocked by another alarming gunshot incident on Sunday evening, marking the third such occurrence within a mere five-day span. This latest episode unfolded in Sector 38, sending shockwaves through the community as both the shooter and the intended target were revealed to be minors. The incident occurred while Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria was present in the same sector, an area already on high alert due to recent violence.
Details of the Shooting and Swift Police Response
According to police reports, the incident began when two minor boys were standing near a house in the colony. A scooter-borne accused arrived and engaged in a conversation with them for nearly ten minutes. Suddenly, at close range, he allegedly fired a single shot before speeding away on a white scooter. The complainant boy, who had come to his uncle's house in Sector 38 from Mohali, narrowly escaped unharmed and immediately alerted authorities by dialing 112.
Within minutes, a coordinated response was launched. Teams from the Sector 39 police station, crime branch, operations cell, district crime cell, and a forensic unit swiftly surrounded the area. Investigators recovered a spent bullet shell and utilized clear CCTV footage, which captured the assailant's actions, to identify the shooter. The suspect, a resident of Sector 38C, was arrested within a few hours of the incident.
Investigation and Possible Motives
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. Police sources indicated that the firing may be linked to revenge, possibly connected to the January 17 murder of Sumit alias Golu from Mauli Jagran. However, authorities emphasized that the exact motive will only be determined after a detailed interrogation of the arrested minor.
This event adds to a rapidly escalating pattern of gun violence in Chandigarh, raising serious concerns about public safety and juvenile delinquency. The city has witnessed a spate of similar incidents in recent months, highlighting a troubling trend.
Recent Gun Violence Incidents in Chandigarh
- March 18: Four assailants fired at SOPU leader Jashandeep Singh Jawandha on the Panjab University campus, escaping after snatching a motorcycle at gunpoint. No arrests have been made in this case so far.
- March 19: Two shooters gunned down property dealer Chamanpreet Singh alias Chini in Sector 9; both were later apprehended in Kaithal following a brief encounter.
- January 21: Criminals opened fire at a chemist shop in Sector 32 and outside a builder's home in Sector 21 in attempted extortion cases.
The recurrence of such violent acts, particularly involving minors, underscores the urgent need for enhanced law enforcement measures and community interventions to address the root causes of gun crime in the region.
