Man out on bail shot dead near Phagwara

Panic gripped Gandwa village near Phagwara on Wednesday night after a young man riding a scooter was gunned down in broad daylight by three assailants. The murder, which appears to have been a planned attack, has sent shock waves through the local community and raised serious questions about law and order in the region. Ongoing rivalry between two gangster groups was said to be the cause of murder.

The victim has been identified as Navjot Kumar, a resident of Gandwa village near Phagwara. According to sources, Navjot was recently released on bail in a murder case and was travelling on his Activa scooter when three attackers, riding a motorcycle, intercepted him on the village road. Without warning, they opened fire from a close range, shooting multiple rounds into him before fleeing the scene. Navjot was brought to the Civil Hospital in a pool of blood but the doctors declared him brought dead.

Witnesses say the attack was swift and targeted. “They stopped him mid-road, fired at least three or four rounds and disappeared within seconds,” said a local resident. The young man collapsed on the road as villagers rushed to the spot, only to find him already dead.

SSP Gaurav Toora, who visited the scene shortly after the incident, confirmed that the murder appeared to be a targeted killing, likely linked to previous enmity or gang rivalry.

“Navjot Kumar was recently out on bail in a murder case, and initial investigation suggests this could be an act of retaliation,” Toora stated. The police have registered a case under Sections 302 and 34, IPC, and the Arms Act.

He added that the police have taken the body into custody and sent it to the hospital mortuary in Phagwara for the post-mortem examination. A forensic team was also called in to collect evidence from the crime scene. The police are examining the CCTV footage from nearby areas and are speaking to witnesses to trace the route of the attackers.

The incident has left the villagers in fear and anger. Locals expressed frustration over what they called inadequate security measures, especially for individuals who are known to have been involved in serious criminal cases. Some residents criticized the authorities for not monitoring individuals out on bail.