BJP leader Vijay Soni narrowly escaped an attack on Thursday when two bike-borne assailants opened fire at his petrol pump in Gurdaspur, Punjab. According to Soni, who serves as the convener of the BJP's district trade cell in Gurdaspur, the incident occurred on Wednesday evening when two men with covered faces arrived on a motorcycle and started shooting. Soni emerged unhurt, though two to three bullets struck his nearby car and one hit the wall.
In response, Soni retrieved his licensed gun from a bag and fired retaliatory shots, prompting the attackers to flee. The entire incident was captured on the petrol pump's CCTV cameras.
Soni further revealed that prior to the attack, he had received an audio message from a foreign number demanding a ransom of Rs 2 crore, with a 10-day deadline for payment. He stated that he also runs a spare part shop and carries a licensed weapon due to the cash-intensive nature of his business.
Following the incident, Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon contacted the Senior Superintendent of Police in Gurdaspur, demanding a thorough investigation and immediate arrest of the accused. Dhillon also spoke with Soni over the phone, condemning the firing as a clear case of extortion and criticizing the Bhagwant Mann government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu also reached out to Soni after the attack, offering support. Police have confirmed they are investigating the matter.
