Abohar Businessman Killed; Moga Doctor Critically Shot

Sanjay Verma, a prominent businessman and co-owner of a well known tailoring showroom in Abohar was shot dead by three motorcyclists on 7 Jul. However, on 9 Jul, less than an hour after declaring the arrest of two men—Jaspreet Singh and Ram Rattan—in connection with the Verma murder, the Panjab Police said the suspects were killed in an encounter outside the city. Statements by ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders said the two were 'neutralized in an encounter' with police. Panjab AAP chief Aman Arora praised the police for 'eliminating gangsters' in an 'encounter'. Panjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan complimented the police during the special session of the state Assembly. However, the First Information Report (FIR) says the two were killed by their own accomplices when they took police to recover clothes and weapons used by the killers. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary and Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa called Panjab a ‘police state’ and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the killing of the two men. Panjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, who hails from Abohar and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the deteriorating law and order situation in Panjab. Earlier, on 5 Jul, two unidentified assailants shot Dr. Aniljit Kamboj at his clinic in Kot Ise Khan town in Moga district. The doctor sustained two bullet injuries and is currently on a ventilator and in critical condition. A family member, requesting anonymity, said Kamboj has been receiving extortion calls for USD 116K since 2022 from Canada-based Lakhbir Singh Landa, an operative of the banned organization Babbar Khalsa International. He also said that Kamboj was also given a security cover by the Moga Police but the lone gunman was withdrawn some months ago without providing any reason. Police admits, from January 2023 to March 2025, Panjab registered 569 FIRs related to gangster threats, including extortion and intimidation, with over 600 extortion and threat calls reported in 2023-24. The state faces challenges from over 500 gangs operating under 10 major networks.