In a brazen daylight assault, masked gunmen targeted a high-end car rental showroom in Ludhiana on Saturday, firing multiple rounds at luxury vehicles and leaving behind slips of paper bearing the names of notorious international gangsters. The attack near ITB Chowk has sent shockwaves through the city, raising serious concerns about gang-related extortion and violence.
The Calculated Daylight Assault
According to eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage, the incident unfolded around 10:30 am. Two attackers arrived on a motorcycle from the Mullanpur side, with its registration plates deliberately blackened to avoid identification. In a calculated move, they performed a U-turn to approach the Royal Limo's showroom from the wrong side of the road.
One gunman then dismounted and, using weapons in both hands, opened fire. Five to six rounds were discharged, shattering the showroom's windows and striking the front windshields of a Mercedes and a Range Rover parked outside. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dakha) Varinder Singh Khosa confirmed the details, stating, "Two masked men resorted to firing. Two shots hit the window and two to three hit their vehicles." Bystanders were forced to dive for cover during the attack.
The Gangster Connection and Investigation
Before fleeing towards Jagraon, the assailants dropped two paper chits, which have become a central lead for investigators. The slips bore the names of known gangsters Pawan Shaukeen and Mohabbat Randhawa.
Ludhiana police have initiated a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. While the owners of Royal Limo's claim they have no known enemies and have not received recent extortion threats, the police are probing the gangster link thoroughly.
Pawan Shaukeen is classified by police as an "A-category" gangster and is believed to be operating from the United States. Mohabbat Randhawa, linked to the Bambiha gang faction, is also suspected to be based abroad. Randhawa recently claimed responsibility on social media for the murder of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) official in the Amritsar region.
A heavy police force, led by DSP Khosa and CIA officer in charge Amritpal Singh, cordoned off the area after the shooting. Employees inside the showroom at the time escaped unharmed. Investigators are scanning CCTV footage from multiple routes to trace the motorcycle's escape path, though the obscured number plate has complicated efforts to identify the vehicle's owner.
High-Profile Target and Regional Implications
The target of the attack, Royal Limo's, is a prominent business catering to Punjab's lavish wedding industry. Its fleet includes ultra-luxury vehicles such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Hummer and Range Rover stretch limousines, used for weddings and pre-wedding shoots.
The bold nature of this broad daylight attack has intensified anxieties about the reach and audacity of gang networks in the region. The use of "calling cards" is seen as a signature tactic meant to instill fear and signal the involvement of organized crime figures operating from overseas. The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the precise motive behind this shocking act of violence.
