A young father was brutally shot dead in broad daylight in Phagwara on Thursday, marking the second such violent incident to shake the industrial city within a single week. The shocking murder has sent waves of fear through the local community and prompted urgent questions about public safety.
Details of the Daylight Murder
The victim has been identified as Gurpreet Singh, aged 30, a resident of Maqsoodan. The incident occurred around 2:30 PM on Thursday, May 23, near a shop in the bustling Maqsoodan area. According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, the tragedy unfolded from a seemingly trivial argument.
Gurpreet Singh was reportedly sitting at a shop when a verbal altercation broke out with another individual. The disagreement quickly escalated. The accused, identified as Maninder Singh, alias Mani, allegedly arrived at the scene, pulled out a firearm, and opened fire. Gurpreet Singh was shot at point-blank range. He sustained critical gunshot wounds and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
A City on Edge: Second Shooting in Seven Days
This horrific killing comes just days after another shooting incident rattled Phagwara. In the earlier case, which occurred in the Street Number 6 area of New Jawahar Nagar, a man named Ravinder Singh was injured after being shot by an acquaintance. The back-to-back incidents have created an atmosphere of tension and vulnerability among residents.
Following Thursday's murder, the Phagwara police acted swiftly. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, and the Arms Act. Law enforcement officials have launched a manhunt to apprehend the main accused, Maninder Singh, who is currently absconding. Preliminary investigations suggest the possibility of a personal enmity behind the fatal confrontation.
Community Reaction and Official Response
The killing has left the victim's family devastated. Gurpreet Singh is survived by his young children and other family members, who are now grappling with an irreparable loss. The brazen nature of the crime, executed in a public area during the day, has sparked outrage and concern among local citizens and business owners.
Senior police officials have assured the public that all efforts are being made to arrest the accused. They have emphasized that such acts of violence will be dealt with strictly. However, the recurrence of gun violence in a short span has led to calls for heightened police patrolling and more proactive crime prevention measures in the city.
The back-to-back shootings in Phagwara highlight a disturbing trend of disputes turning deadly. They serve as a grim reminder of the challenges facing law and order in the region and the urgent need for measures to curb the proliferation of firearms and address interpersonal conflicts before they escalate into tragedy.
