LUDHIANA: A late-night shooting at a pizza outlet in Ludhiana’s Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar area has triggered a police investigation after three rounds were allegedly fired inside the establishment, sending customers and employees rushing for safety.
The incident was captured on the outlet’s CCTV cameras. According to the footage being examined by investigators, unidentified individuals entered the premises and fired three shots in quick succession before leaving the location.
The sudden gunfire created panic among those present at the outlet, with workers and customers seen attempting to get out of the premises immediately after the shooting.
Police have begun analysing the CCTV recordings to establish the sequence of events and identify the people involved. Investigators are also working to determine the route taken by the suspects after they left the area.
The investigation gained another dimension after an Instagram account operating under the name ‘Gopi Lahoria Group’ reportedly uploaded a post claiming responsibility for the firing. The message also contained threatening references to the outlet.
Police, however, have not yet established the authenticity of the social media claim. Officials are examining whether the account has any genuine connection with a criminal group or whether the post was created by someone attempting to mislead investigators or create fear.
The police cyber cell has been brought into the investigation to examine the digital trail associated with the Instagram account. Technical information linked to the account is being analysed as investigators attempt to identify its operator and determine whether the person behind the post has any connection with the shooting.
At this stage, police are treating the CCTV footage and the social media post as separate pieces of evidence while investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The motive for the firing remains unclear. Investigators are looking into several possibilities, including whether the outlet was specifically targeted and whether the incident could be connected to an alleged extortion attempt, gang rivalry or another personal or criminal dispute.
The shooting has renewed concerns about incidents involving firearms and alleged gang threats in Ludhiana. Police are continuing efforts to identify the shooters and establish the circumstances that led to the firing.
