Rajpura: Panic gripped Rajpura on Friday after two unidentified youth allegedly opened fire inside the office of Lakshmi Property Dealer near the underbridge on Patiala Road before fleeing the spot. The daring broad-daylight attack has left local business owners and residents deeply shaken, prompting a heavy police deployment in the commercial hub. Fortunately, despite multiple shots being fired in close quarters, all staff members present inside the office managed to escape the incident unhurt.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the two suspects arrived at the location riding a Honda Activa scooter. While one of the assailants kept the vehicle running outside to ensure a quick getaway, his accomplice, who had his face masked to conceal his identity, entered the premises. The armed youth confronted the staff and enquired about the whereabouts of the property firm’s owner, Ramesh Pahuja. Upon being informed by an employee that the owner was not present in the office at the time, the assailant pulled out a revolver and opened indiscriminate fire inside the cabin, striking the walls and furniture.
The attackers fired around eight rounds before speeding away from the busy marketplace on their scooter. Senior police officials rushed to the spot immediately after being alerted by the terrified staff. Law enforcement agencies have launched a comprehensive investigation to identify the accused and ascertain the underlying motive behind the shooting, which bears the hallmarks of an extortion attempt. Detectives are currently scanning CCTV footage from cameras installed near the underbridge and surrounding commercial establishments on Patiala Road to trace the escape route of the shooters.
