Two back-to-back firing incidents linked to alleged extortion attempts within just 30 minutes have sparked panic across the Amritsar rural belt.
The first incident occurred at 6.32 pm outside Dhalla Jewellers near Nath Di Khui on Mehta Road, where unidentified assailants opened fire. Angrej Singh of Chananke village, the shop owner, was reportedly the target. No injuries were reported, but the attack triggered fear among local traders and residents.
Barely half an hour later, at around 7 pm, two motorcycle-borne attackers allegedly fired nearly eight rounds outside a Kajaria showroom in Rayya under the Beas police station. The showroom belongs to Harpreet Singh Happy, an Akali Dal candidate from Ward No. 4 and son of late SGPC member and former Rayya Municipal Committee president Gurvinder Pal Singh Rayya. Sources claimed Harpreet Singh had earlier received extortion threats. The police have launched a probe and confirmed the extortion angle.
These incidents follow a recent crackdown in Sudhar village, where Amritsar rural police busted an extortion racket. Four persons were arrested for allegedly working for foreign-based gangster networks linked to Jeevan Fauji and his associate Sukhjinder Singh, who were recruiting foot soldiers for Fauji.
Investigators revealed that businessmen and residents were receiving extortion calls through virtual numbers and encrypted applications, making it difficult to trace the origin of communication. In one case, Jasbir Singh allegedly received a demand for Rs 30 lakh before assailants opened fire outside his residence. In another, village sarpanch Nishan Singh was threatened with a demand for Rs 50 lakh, after which attackers hurled a petrol bomb at his house.
The spate of incidents has intensified concerns over rising gangster activity and targeted firing cases in Punjab.
Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia criticised the state government for failing to control crime, alleging that the trading community across the state was living under fear.
