In a spine-chilling incident that unfolded in broad daylight on Saturday, Harjinder Singh Johal, the president of the Bathinda Mall Road Association, was fatally shot outside his shop by two unidentified assailants. The entire episode was captured on CCTV, bringing into focus the escalating crime rate in the state and raising questions about public safety.
The Grim Sequence of Events
Harjinder Singh Johal was seated outside his shop, deeply engrossed in his mobile phone when tragedy struck. Two individuals, faces concealed by hoodies, arrived on a motorcycle. Without uttering a single word, they opened fire on Johal, who was caught entirely unawares.
Bathinda shopkeepers’ group chief shot dead @kamalsinghbrar
— Express Punjab (@iepunjab) October 28, 2023
Aftermath and the Assailants’ Escape
Immediately following the gunfire, which consisted of 5 to 6 shots aimed at different parts of Johal’s body, a commotion erupted. Onlookers who were attracted by the sound of gunfire could only watch in horror as the culprits seized the opportunity to flee the scene.
Immediate Response and Hospitalization
Johal was quickly rushed to a civil hospital but was referred to Max Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Unfortunately, he succumbed before he could receive advanced medical care. The Kotwali police have initiated an investigation, but as of now, the culprits remain at large.
CCTV footage shows the Amritsari Kulcha shop owner and President of the Bathinda Mall Road Shopkeepers Association being shot dead outside his shop by two unidentified assailants. He was sitting at the shop’s counter when the shooters fired bullets at him. #Bathinda pic.twitter.com/9KUPptmaF2
— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) October 28, 2023
Repercussions and Community Response
In the wake of this devastating incident, the Mall Road Association has issued an ultimatum, threatening to shut down businesses if immediate action is not taken to apprehend the criminals responsible for Johal’s murder.
Political Commentary
Punjab’s former Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, took to social media to condemn the event and criticize the ruling Aam Aadmi Party for the rising crime rate in Punjab.
His tweet reads, “Shocking incident in Bathinda. Mall Road Association President Harjinder Singh Mela Ji was shot dead in broad daylight. Such incidents have become common in Punjab under the Aam Aadmi Party regime.”
Shocking incident in Bathinda. Mall Road Association President Harjinder Singh Mela Ji shot dead in broad daylight. Such incidents have become common in Punjab under the Aam Aadmi Party regime. The entire trading community is in a state of fear. Shiromani Akali Dal demands an… pic.twitter.com/D0yTY7Nbe6
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) October 28, 2023
The brutal murder of Harjinder Singh Johal serves as a grim indicator of the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab. With political leaders pointing fingers and the local community living in fear, the incident serves as a wake-up call for authorities. The onus now falls on law enforcement agencies to restore a semblance of order and security, as the public awaits justice for Johal.
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As the Bathinda community and the state of Punjab grapple with the horrifying implications of this incident, one can only hope for swift justice and immediate action to prevent future such tragedies.
