200 Rounds Fired At Punjab Councillor's House, Woman Injured

A woman was critically injured when alleged drug smugglers fired 200 rounds at a Punjab Councillor's house that was all lit-up for a big wedding.

The incident took place at Zira in Firozpur district.

The victim's family told the cops that some people in their neighborhood used to sell drugs and they put a stop to it. This led to resentment and they were constantly being threatened, they added.

The injured woman, said the family, has been taken to a hospital. They further said that they too were beaten badly and have demanded strict action against the culprits.  

Pictures from the scene showed a bullet-ridden gate, bricks lying around and damaged vehicles.

"The incident has come to our notice. An investigation has been ordered and appropriate action will be taken," said Additional Director General Of Police (ADGP) Praveen Kumar Sinha.

A similar incident has happened in Patiala yesterday. The Patiala police registered an FIR against unidentified people after an attack at the house of former councillor Seema Sharma late Thursday night. The accused damaged a vehicle and broke the windowpanes.

"It seems to be a political rivalry as the suspects, with their faces covered, barged inside the house and tried to attack us," Ms Sharma, who recently joined the BJP, said in her complaint.

Patiala MP Preneet Kaur condemned the attack and lashed out at the state government for the poor law and order situation in the state.

"I am completely horrified by this attack at the home of Seema Sharma ji. The brazenness of the attackers who attacked the house and the family in the evening astonishes me. This is one of the busiest areas of Patiala and yet around six gangsters came and attacked the house with swords and bricks and opened fire. What's even saddening and shameful is that even after repeated calls from the family and the neighbours, the police didn't come. Not only that, even after I urged the senior superintendent of police to send the officers to the spot, not a single policeman went until the next morning," she said.

Preneet Kaur claimed there is "complete lawlessness in the state". "This heinous attack at the residence of Seema Sharma yesterday is a testament to the worsening law and order situation under the Aam Aadmi Party rule in Punjab. Snatching and robbery have become a daily affair in Patiala and now even these violent incidents have increased manifold in the last few days. Recently two violent incidents and firing took place at Patiala's New Bus stand. Still, the government has completely turned a blind eye to the law and order situation in Punjab," she added.

The common public is losing faith in the Punjab Government and the Punjab Police because of these "regular incidents", Ms Kaur claimed.