Punjab businessman shot dead in broad daylight, Bishnoi gang claims responsibility

Yet another incident of daylight shooting rocked Punjab after a textile businessman and social worker, Sanjay Verma, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Abohar city on Monday morning, officials said.

Verma, a co-owner of the 'New Wear Well Gents Tailor' showroom, was attacked around 10.15 am when he stepped out of his car near his shop. According to the police, Sanjay had just parked his car when a few miscreants came and opened fire on him. He died on the spot.

Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage suggested that the three assailants initially tried to flee on their motorcycle after the shooting, but their bike skidded a short distance away.

The killers then snatched another motorcycle from a passerby and managed to escape. CCTV grabs showed the masked shooters roaming around the area before the attack and then fleeing the scene in a hurry.

Verma was rushed to the local civil hospital but was declared brought dead by doctors. His body has been sent for a post-mortem. A large crowd of relatives, friends, and locals gathered outside the mortuary as news of the killing spread, sparking outrage and panic among the local business community.

Gangster Aarzoo Bishnoi, a close confidant of jailed Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, has claimed responsibility for Verma's murder in a social media post. Police are verifying the claim and its possible links to extortion rackets targeting local businessmen.

Abohar MLA Amandeep Singh Goldy visited the hospital soon after the incident to meet the bereaved family and express his condolences. In response to the murder, several trade associations have called for a complete shutdown of markets on Monday, demanding swift justice and better security for traders.

Police have sealed all entry and exit points of the town and sounded a high alert across the region. A massive search operation is underway, with multiple CCTV feeds being scanned to identify the attackers and track their escape route.

Meanwhile, the BJP attacked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), calling it complete collapse of law and order in the border state.

"The broad day light murder in Abohar is yet another eerie reminder that Punjab's Law and Order has totally collapsed. Deafening silence of the AAP Government after each such killing only emboldens the gangsters. CM Bhagwant Mann must tell Punjabis who is responsible for this blot on Punjab's name. Wake up, it's already too late," Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar wrote in a post on X.

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(With inputs from Surinder Goyal.)