Chandigarh: In a broad daylight shocking incident, Sudhir Suri, a Shiv Sena leader was shot dead in Amritsar city of Punjab Friday while he was protesting outside a temple against its management for its alleged negligence in the temple maintenance.
The incident took place around 3.30 pm when Suri was holding a protest outside Gopal mandir, in Gopal Nagar, located on one of the busiest area of the city - Majitha road - when the accused, identified as Sandeep Sunny, who runs a garments shop, near the dharna spot, shot five bullets at him. Suri was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.
Police said that the accused had been arrested and the weapon, a .32 bore licenced pistol used by him in the crime, recovered.
Prior to his killing, Suri showed, through live social media, how various religious literature and broken idols were thrown in the garbage outside the temple.
Panic gripped instantly after the killing with Suri’s supporters pelting stones on the houses of the temple management office-holders and also attempting to damage vehicles belonging to them. While a few gunshots were heard even after the killing, the entire melee was still live on social media.
However, when asked if there was any radicals' angle or a spat between Suri and Sunny was the reason behind the killing as the latter had reportedly asked Suri to shift the dharna spot from near his shop, police said it was too early to comment on it as the matter was being looked into. Appealing to people and media to refrain from rumour mongering, the police held that it would hold a fair probe.
KILLED DESPITE SECURITY COVER
However, what was the most shocking aspect of the crime was that it took place despite the police security cover given to Suri as he was reportedly on the hit-list of several gangsters and had been getting threats of life. It was in this wake that he had been provided security by the state government. Nonetheless, he also had some cases registered against him for making casteist remarks and was also arrested.
Reacting to the incident, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma said the law and order situation had completely collapsed in the state under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rule.
The BJP spokesperson Priti Gandhi also tweeted: “Right under the nose of several police officers in Amritsar, Hindu activist Sudhir Suri shot dead at point blank range. He was reportedly on the hitlist of pro-Khalistani elements. Meanwhile Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann is busy with AAP's election campaign in Gujarat. What a shame!!”
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the law and order in the state was going from bad to worse.
Friday’s shocking incident took place a few months after singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead in broad daylight near his ancestral village in Mansa district.
He sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to hospital and died. The accused has been arrested. His weapons are recovered," Arun Pal Singh, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar said.Further details are awaited.
Visuals showed his supporters firing in retaliation at the alleged attacker who fled into a residential building. (Watch below)
