Phagwara: Residents of Darvesh village near Phagwara woke up to shock and fear on Thursday after the home of AAP leader and Yudh Nasheya Virudh Phagwara Coordinator Daljit Raju came under heavy gunfire in a late-night attack. The incident unfolded around 1:13 a.m., when two masked individuals opened fire repeatedly at the property before escaping.
According to the initial complaint, Raju, his wife and their daughter were asleep on the first floor when the sudden barrage of bullets shattered the silence. Multiple rounds hit the glass railing and windows, though no one in the family was injured. Raju told investigators that the sound of the shots woke him, and when he looked outside, he saw two armed men firing at close range.
Security camera footage collected from the vicinity appears to confirm his account. The recording shows two men arriving on a motorcycle with their faces covered. They reportedly parked the bike at the village entrance and approached the house on foot. One of them is seen hurling four sheets of paper into the premises—pages that bore the words “Kala Rana Group — 5 crore,” hinting at a potential extortion threat.
Raju has told police he is unaware of any personal dispute that could have prompted the attack. He suspects the shooters belonged to a criminal network attempting to scare or extort him. Several empty shells were recovered from the scene, suggesting the assailants fired indiscriminately before fleeing.
Local police were alerted immediately after the incident. Two SHOs reached the site within minutes, followed later by SP Madhvi Sharma and DSP Bharat Bhushan, who inspected the damaged portion of the house and spoke to the visibly shaken family early Thursday morning. MP Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Halka Incharge Harnoor Singh Maan also visited the residence to express support.
A case has been registered at the Satnampura Police Station under Sections 308(5), 61(2), 324(4), 111 of the BNS, along with provisions of the Arms Act (25-54-59). SSP Gaurav Toora said investigators are exploring all possibilities, including extortion, gang-related pressure tactics and targeted intimidation. Police teams are also reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to piece together the attackers’ movements.
Patrolling has been stepped up across the locality as the search for the suspects intensifies.
