NEW DELHI: An unidentified gunmen fired around eight rounds at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Congress councillor Neetu Chaudhary in Punjab’s Mohali district early Wednesday (Oct 14), police said, amid allegations that the politician had been receiving threats from the Donny Bal gang.
The attack took place around 2.30am in the Baltana area of Zirakpur, where two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at Chaudhary’s house before fleeing.
Bullets struck the main gate and exterior walls, leaving several visible marks. No injuries were reported.
Superintendent of Police Ghazalpreet Kaur said preliminary investigations indicated that approximately eight rounds had been fired.
Police teams and forensic experts reached the scene, collected evidence and began examining CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify the attackers.
Chaudhary alleged that he had been receiving threats in the name of gangster Donny Bal since last year and had lodged a complaint with Zirakpur police.
He claimed that threatening calls from international numbers contonued despite the registration of a case.
The foremr councillor questioned the effectiveness of police action following his earlier complaint and raised concerns over the safety of his family.
Police, however, have not established any connection between the shooting and the alleged gangster threats. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Investigators are examining possible motives, including extortion and personal rivalry, while forensic teams are analysing evidence recovered from the scene.
Chaudhary was elected councillor from Ward 31 in Baltana on a Congress ticket in 2022 before subsequently joining the AAP.
Donny Bal, reportedly based in the United Kingdom, has been linked by security agencies to the Gopi Ghanshyampuria criminal network and the Bambiha gang.
He is alleged to be involved in multiple criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, extortion and arms trafficking.
Police said efforts were underway to identify and arrest the assailants, while the possible connection between the earlier threats and Wednesday’s shooting remained under investigation. - The Statesman/ANN
