Youth critically injured in Kotkapura shooting; old rivalry suspected

A youth was critically injured in a shooting incident in Kotkapura late Tuesday evening, allegedly due to an old rivalry.

The attack took place at a firecracker stall where the victim was sitting when the assailants opened fire. Seriously injured, he was rushed to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot, where his condition remains serious.

According to the victim’s brother, Lalit, the incident followed a confrontation that had occurred just a day earlier at the same stall. He alleged that a group of boys had created a ruckus and engaged in a fight, during which they also stole Rs 10,000 from the cash box. Lalit said that despite filing a complaint at the Thana City Kotkapura police station, the police took no action.

He further alleged that on Tuesday evening, the same group returned to the stall and fired three shots, one of which hit his cousin in the stomach. “We had already informed the police about these boys, but they ignored our complaint. Had they acted in time, this would not have happened,” Lalit said, demanding justice and the immediate arrest of the attackers.

The assailants managed to flee the scene after the shooting. Meanwhile, the Kotkapura City police have registered a case and initiated a search operation to nab the culprits. However, police officials have so far refrained from making any public statement regarding the incident or the allegations of inaction leveled against them.

The shocking incident has sparked anger among local residents, who have demanded accountability from the police for their alleged negligence and called for stringent action against those responsible for the shooting.