AAP Leader Lucky Oberoi Shot Dead Outside Gurdwara in Punjab

Lucky Oberoi, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was fatally shot on Friday morning outside a gurdwara in the affluent Model Town area of Jalandhar, Punjab. The incident occurred when Oberoi was leaving after his morning prayers. According to witnesses, he was shot multiple times by assailants on a scooter around 8 a.m.

Oberoi was rushed to a private hospital shortly after the shooting but did not survive his injuries. Eyewitness accounts suggest that he had just finished paying homage inside the gurdwara when the attack took place. A sewadar, or caretaker, at the gurdwara remarked that many initially mistook the gunfire for celebratory fireworks from ongoing wedding ceremonies.

Rajwinder Thiara, in charge of AAP’s Jalandhar Cantt halqa, stated that it was part of Oberoi’s daily routine to visit the gurdwara and suggested that the attackers were familiar with his schedule. The police reported that he sustained serious wounds to both his chest and head. Oberoi was a financier by profession and had connections to local governance, with his wife, Simarjot Kaur, having contested local councillor elections.

The assailants, believed to be associated with the Sheru gang, reportedly had a motive linked to threats made over the appointment of a student president at Lyallpur Khalsa College. Oberoi had recently facilitated this appointment and had received consistent threats as a result. Despite obtaining a weapon licence for protection, he was not armed during the visit to the gurdwara.

Punjab's Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, visited the crime scene and coordinated with senior police officers regarding the ongoing investigation. He confirmed that the police were reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area in an effort to identify the shooters. In a statement to the press, Yadav noted, "We are tracking all forward and backward movements of the suspects via CCTV footage."

Authorities have begun gathering technical evidence, including mobile tower data, to assist with the investigation. Yadav mentioned the alarming increase in weapon smuggling, particularly from Pakistan, highlighting concerns surrounding firearms being trafficked via drones.

In light of the recent shooting, Punjab’s opposition parties criticized the AAP government for failing to ensure public safety. Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of the Opposition, expressed that the incident illustrated a dire state of security in the region, questioning the government's competence to protect its own leaders.

Statements from senior officials have indicated that while there is no confirmed organised crime aspect to the shooting, there may be personal vendettas involved. Investigators are also looking into online activity linked to the incident, aiming to track any potential threats communicated via social media platforms.

An FIR has been lodged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act at the local police station. As the investigation continues, local communities and political observers remain vigilant, calling for immediate measures to address safety concerns in Punjab.