Ludhiana Gang Violence Erupts in Public Market Shootout
A long-standing feud between two notorious criminal factions exploded into a violent public confrontation in Ludhiana's Mahadev Colony on Monday night, resulting in one man sustaining gunshot injuries and causing widespread panic among local residents and shopkeepers. The dramatic incident unfolded in the Sahnewal area, transforming a busy market zone into a scene of chaos as rival groups engaged in intense stone-pelting followed by an exchange of gunfire.
Escalation from Verbal Altercation to Armed Conflict
According to eyewitness accounts, the violent episode began when members of the two rival groups converged in the Kanganwal market area during the late evening hours. What initially appeared to be a heated verbal argument rapidly escalated into a full-scale riot, with participants from both sides hurling bricks and stones at each other in plain public view.
As tensions reached their peak, the situation took an even more dangerous turn when armed individuals from both factions began discharging firearms. During this intense crossfire, a man identified as Ukesh, who is allegedly associated with the "Bohimia" criminal group, suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. The sudden outbreak of violence forced terrified shopkeepers and business owners in the vicinity to immediately close their establishments and seek safety from the dangerous confrontation.
Police Response and Criminal Charges Filed
Sahnewal police station SHO, Inspector Gurmukh Singh, confirmed that authorities have registered a comprehensive First Information Report (FIR) against members of both criminal factions involved in the violent clash. The charges documented in the police report are particularly serious and include:
- Attempt to murder
- Rioting with deadly weapons
- Multiple violations under the Arms Act
Police investigators have specifically named several key suspects in the official complaint, including individuals known as Bohimia, Masla, and Bablu Star Boy from one faction, and Mani Khachhar and Aman Bains from the rival group, along with several currently unidentified accomplices.
Inspector Gurmukh Singh provided additional context about the accused individuals, stating: "Several of the accused have extensive criminal backgrounds and have been involved in previous violent clashes. This incident represents a direct escalation of their ongoing rivalry. Our police teams are currently conducting coordinated raids across multiple locations to apprehend all those involved in this dangerous public violence."
Background of Ongoing Criminal Activities
Further police investigations have revealed troubling connections to previous criminal incidents. One of the primary suspects identified in Monday's violence, Mani Khachhar, was already wanted by Ludhiana police authorities for his alleged involvement in a separate violent confrontation that occurred on January 25 in New Azad Nagar.
That earlier incident reportedly began over what might seem like a trivial matter—a tent installed for a six-year-old child's birthday party. According to the victim's complaint in that case, Ajay Kumar alleged that a neighbor took objection to the party decorations and subsequently summoned Mani Khachhar and Ravi Khachhar to the scene. The Khachhar brothers then allegedly brandished a firearm and attempted to shoot Kumar, though the weapon reportedly malfunctioned, preventing more serious injury.
The connection between these incidents highlights the persistent nature of criminal rivalries in certain areas of Ludhiana and the potential for seemingly minor disputes to escalate into serious violence when involving individuals with established criminal histories and access to illegal firearms.
