Punjab AAP leader's house fired upon; ₹5cr extortion note found
What's the story
The house of Daljit Singh Raju, a prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Punjab, was attacked early Thursday. Two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle fired approximately 23 rounds at his residence near Darvesh Pind village on the Phagwara-Jandiala road, per PTI. No one was injured in the attack. "First I thought that some firecrackers were being burst but then my wife saw that two men were firing at the house," Raju said, adding that he immediately called the police.
Evidence found
Extortion notes recovered from crime scene
PTI sources said the assailants also left behind extortion notes, bearing the name of the Raja Kala gang, demanding ₹5 crore. The notes were written in English and mentioned the name of their group along with the ransom amount. When questioned about possible motives for the attack, Raju, who is a 'War on Drugs' coordinator in Kapurthala's Phagwara, denied any previous threats or enmity.
Investigation underway
CCTV footage captures assailants' actions
The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed near Raju's house. The footage shows the assailants firing multiple rounds and reloading their weapons. Police confirmed that a .45 bore pistol was used in the attack and several spent shells were recovered from the spot. Superintendent of Police Madhavi Sharma has formed multiple police teams to trace these attackers, promising their swift arrest.
Political reaction
Local Congress MLA criticizes law enforcement response
Meanwhile, local Congress MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal slammed the authorities for their failure to maintain law and order in Phagwara. "When will authorities step up to protect citizens? Swift action against the culprits and stronger policing are urgently needed," Dhaliwal said in a social media post. Raju previously headed the Dehati (Rural) Congress in the region and holds significant influence in the rural areas of Phagwara, according to the Indian Express.