An NRI who recently returned from the United States was shot at his residence in Amritsar's Daburji area in Punjab on Saturday. Two armed men entered Sukhchain Singh's residence and fired at him from close range even as his wife and child pleaded for his life.
Singh, who suffered two bullet injuries, has been hospitalised. The attack was recorded on Singh's CCTV camera. The footage showed the assailants fleeing the spot after their pistols jammed.
Sukhchain Singh used to live in the US and returned to Amritsar around 20 days back. He recently bought a luxury car worth Rs 1.5 crore.
The armed assailants entered Singh's home on the pretext of enquiring about his car's registration certificate and then started firing at him.
Singh's family members have demanded strict action against the accused. His mother has claimed that the family of Singh's first wife was behind the attack.
Police have seized all the CCTVs of the residence and started an investigation into the incident, which has been used by the opposition to corner the ruling AAP government on the law and order situation.
Punjab Minister for NRI affairs Kuldeep S Dhaliwal hinted that the incident might have been the result of a personal dispute.
"We are verifying whether the issue was personal. Property and other personal disputes related to NRIs are prevalent these days. Yesterday also, I resolved a similar issue in Ludhiana. My appeal to NRIs is that any such personal issue should be resolved by sitting together and through mutual consent," Dhaliwal said.
The government has asked the Amritsar Police Commissioner to take immediate action in the matter.
'NO LAW AND ORDER IN PUNJAB'
Former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the "deadly attack" on Sukhchain Singh had "shaken" Punjab. "You (Bhagwant Mann) and your family go around in bullet-proof vehicles. But, who will protect the Punjabis? Extortion, interviews of gangsters in jails, threats, and murder have become commonplace in Punjab," Harsimrat said.
BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa said he was deeply pained and shocked by the incident. "Looks like there is no law and order in Punjab... Bhagwant Mann's Rangla Punjab is just a dialogue," Sirsa said.
Congress Punjab chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said NRIs once proudly called Punjab their home, but they now live in fear. "The AAP government's incompetence has made Punjab a danger zone. Punjab needs action not bhashan," Warring tweeted.
