Youth shot dead by bike-borne assailants

Late last night, unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants shot and killed a 20-year-old youth on a hilly stretch of the Garhshankar-Nangal road, while his cousin, who was accompanying him in the car, survived. Police are questioning the survivor and reviewing CCTV footage to identify the attackers.

According to information, Aryan (20), son of Amit, a resident of village Sihwan, worked at his cousin’s readymade garments shop at Kokowal Adda. On Tuesday, Aryan had gone to Ludhiana with his cousin Naveen Kumar to purchase stock for the shop. Around 11 pm, while returning by car, the two reached the hilly road between Shahpur and Kot. Naveen reportedly stopped the car, stating he was feeling nauseous and got out.

At that moment, three youths on a motorcycle approached from the Garhshankar side and allegedly demanded money from Naveen. He told them the money was inside the car. The trio then went towards the vehicle and shot Aryan in the head and chest, killing him on the spot, before fleeing.

He was returning from Ludhiana after purchasing goods for the new shop which he had recently rented.

SP (D) Mukesh Kumar told this correspondent, “As of now, it is not clear whether this was a robbery or a targeted murder. The exact motive will be known only after investigation.