Jalandhar, Punjab erupted in shock on Friday morning when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Lucky Oberoi was brutally shot dead by unidentified assailants right outside a gurdwara in Model Town. The brazen daylight attack has sent ripples of fear across the region, raising serious questions about law and order under the AAP government.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers fired multiple rounds at Oberoi before fleeing the scene. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries. Police have launched a manhunt, scouring CCTV footage and forming special teams to track down the perpetrators.
The murder has ignited a political firestorm. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal seized the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration. In a strongly worded post on X, Badal declared, ‘Punjab is drowning in blood under AAP’s ‘Zero Fear’ government. Even AAP leaders are not safe in their own regime.’
Badal highlighted the alarming spike in violence, noting nine murders in the first week of the year alone, followed by nearly 25 in January. ‘These killings are happening everywhere – court complexes, bustling markets, wedding venues, and now outside a gurdwara,’ he fumed. He questioned the much-touted Punjab Police campaign against gangsters, calling the current state ‘anarchy, not governance.’
ADCP Investigation Jayant Pari confirmed that Oberoi was hit by several bullets. ‘We are investigating all angles, including political rivalry and personal enmity,’ he said, assuring swift action. As tension grips Jalandhar, the incident underscores the growing lawlessness plaguing Punjab, with opposition leaders demanding immediate accountability from the ruling AAP.