A Gangland Shadow Over a Model City
Chandigarh, long celebrated as one of India's most beautiful cities, is watching its image change. Extortion-driven shootings have become a recurring story here, and the city is increasingly wearing the look of a gangland. The latest incident — a chilling daylight attack at the well-known Kumar Medical Store in Sector 11 — has sent a fresh wave of fear through the area.
Thirteen Rounds in a Single Second
The attackers opened fire on the cashier seated at the counter, pumping roughly 13 rounds from an automatic gun into him in about one second. Critically wounded, the cashier was rushed to PGI, but he could not be saved and died there.
How the Attack Unfolded
The incident took place around 2:30 pm on Sunday. Two assailants with masks covering their faces walked in like ordinary customers. After pretending to shop, they suddenly drew their weapons and sprayed bullets at the man behind the counter.
The Horror Caught on CCTV
Several CCTV clips of the crime have surfaced, capturing the entire sequence — from the shooting to the getaway. In the footage, the masked men are clearly seen firing a pistol at point-blank range. One video shows them collecting items from the pharmacy before turning an automatic gun on the person at the counter, after which panic erupts inside the shop.
Who the Victim Was
The slain cashier has been identified as 45-year-old Janki Das. He hailed from Rohru in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Notably, his wife had recently won a panchayat election and become the village pradhan. At the time of his death, Janki Das was living in Dhanas, Chandigarh.
Was Someone Else the Target?
According to police sources, the attackers had actually come to kill someone else, but the bullets struck a different person before the accused fled. This has raised the suspicion that the shooters' real target may have been the shop's owner. It is worth noting that the owners of the Kumar Chemist shop had earlier received several extortion calls from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and investigators are now examining the case from that angle.
What the Police Said
Chandigarh SP Sumer Pratap Singh said two masked attackers entered the shop and carried out indiscriminate firing with an automatic gun. He noted that the shop's owner had so far not received any threat. After the attack, the assailants fled on a motorcycle with an accomplice who had been waiting outside. According to the SP, one accused waited on the bike and all three then escaped. Police have formed multiple teams to track down the suspects.
More Footage Emerges
Two additional CCTV videos of the Sector 11 medical store shooting have come to light, clearly showing how the attackers fled after opening fire. Earlier, videos of the attackers entering the shop and of the parking area outside had also been made public.
