LUDHIANA: A series of killings over roughly 48 hours has intensified concerns about public safety in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, with a former village sarpanch among the victims. Police are investigating separate incidents involving shootings and a fatal attack with sharp-edged weapons, while the motives are being examined in each case.
The most prominent case involved Navtej Singh alias Neetu, a former sarpanch of Manewal village, who was shot dead when two motorcycle-borne assailants intercepted his vehicle in the Ladhowal area. Police said he was returning home after visiting his land when the attackers opened fire. Around 10 rounds were reportedly fired, and investigators are examining dashcam footage from his vehicle. Police have booked several people, including a relative, and are investigating a suspected long-running property dispute as a possible motive.
A day earlier, 29-year-old Laddi Khan was shot dead in the Mullanpur Dakha area of Ludhiana district. Investigators are examining the possibility of an old rivalry between two groups behind the killing. The incidents have added to growing public concern over shootings and targeted attacks in Punjab, particularly where attackers appear to operate on motorcycles and flee before police can apprehend them.
The developments have also become part of a wider political debate over Punjab’s law-and-order situation. Opposition parties have questioned the government over the recent killings, while the police investigations into the individual cases remain underway. Importantly, the motives and responsibility in these cases should be established through evidence and due legal process rather than political claims.
For residents, however, the immediate concern is straightforward: how safe are people on Punjab’s roads, in villages and in ordinary public places? The killing of a former elected village representative, along with other recent violent incidents, has renewed demands for stronger policing, faster investigations, effective surveillance and the prompt arrest of those responsible.
With Punjab already facing repeated concerns over gang-related violence, extortion and targeted shootings, these latest incidents are likely to keep law and order at the centre of public discussion. The credibility of the state’s response will ultimately depend on whether investigators are able to identify the perpetrators, establish the motives and bring the cases to a lawful conclusion.
Referance:Times of India,Indian Express