Ludhiana: A woman was shot dead in broad daylight on Saturday in Punjab’s Ludhiana city after an unidentified assailant opened fire outside her house in the GTV Nagar Mundian area. The victim was sitting outside her home with her daughter when the incident took place, police said.
According to initial information, the attacker arrived at the spot and fired at both the woman and her daughter. While the daughter narrowly escaped and managed to save her life, the woman suffered a bullet injury to her head. After the firing, the assailant fled the scene.
Hearing the gunshots, local residents rushed to the spot and immediately shifted the injured woman to the civil hospital. Doctors, however, declared her dead on arrival. The local police were informed soon after and teams reached the spot to gather details and begin an investigation.
The deceased has been identified as Poonam Pandey. Her daughter, who survived the attack, is said to be traumatised by the incident. She reportedly told the police that the family had no known enmity with anyone.
Police said they are scanning CCTV footage installed in and around the area to identify the shooter. Neighbours claimed that the assailant had come on a motorcycle and that more than one person may have been involved. It was also alleged that the attacker briefly entered the house before coming out again and opening fire.
Investigators confirmed that CCTV footage of the incident has surfaced. The visuals reportedly show a young man entering the house, staying inside for nearly three minutes, and then coming out to reload his pistol before firing at the door of the house.
The victim’s daughter told the police that the attacker was wearing a black hoodie. She said the assailant first fired at her, but she moved aside, which saved her. The shooter then fired at her mother, hitting her at the back of the head. The woman collapsed on the spot, bleeding profusely, after which the attacker escaped.
A neighbour, Harvinder, said he was having food when someone informed him about firing in a nearby lane. When he reached the spot, he found the woman lying on the ground. He immediately took out his car and rushed her to the hospital in an attempt to save her life, but her condition was critical.
Police officials said the daughter is married but had been staying with her mother for some time. Further investigation is underway to establish the motive behind the murder and to identify and arrest the accused at the earliest.
