LUDHIANA: A 29-year-old youth was shot dead in an alleged targeted attack while travelling in his car from Mullanpur to his village Majri after shopping with his friend on Friday night.The victim, Ladi Khan, originally belonged to Ravidas Nagar in Mandi Mullanpur and was presently living in Bhundri village. He was travelling in an i20 car with his friend Manpreet Singh of Majri and was going to drop him at his place.Sources said armed men travelling in a Verna allegedly rammed their car into the i20 at around 9pm on the road leading to Khanjarwal village. The impact caused the i20 to go out of control and crash into a roadside pole.The accused then allegedly opened fire at Ladi, hitting him in the chest. As the firing continued, Manpreet allegedly managed to flee from the spot under the cover of darkness and escaped unhurt.Harjit Singh, a relative of the deceased, said the family learnt about the incident on Friday night after his sister came to their place.They then rushed to the police station, where at around 2.30am on Saturday, police told them that Ladi had died and his body was at Civil Hospital in Ludhiana.Singh said Ladi suffered three bullet injuries and died on the spot. He added that the family had no enmity with anyone.Sonu, a cousin of the deceased, said Manpreet had some enmity with the accused, while Ladi had no enmity with them. He said Ladi worked as a driver and was married.The family demanded justice and urged police to conduct a thorough investigation, arrest the accused and take appropriate legal action.Ladi’s father and brother, overcome with grief, described him as a promising and hardworking youth and said his death had left the family devastated.After receiving information about the incident, Dakha police reached the spot and began a probe.Based on the statement of Manpreet Singh alias Rohit aka Billa, Dakha police registered a case against Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Arshdeep Singh, both residents of Majri, along with several unidentified persons.Dakha SHO inspector Nirmaljit Singh said the accused allegedly had an enmity with Manpreet, due to which the attack was carried out.He said Ladi and Manpreet were unaware that the accused were following them and that the attackers rammed their vehicle into the i20 before opening fire after it went out of control.The SHO said five accused were involved in the case, three of whom were unidentified. A manhunt has been launched to arrest them, he added.The SHO said Ladi Khan had NDPS cases against him, while Manpreet Singh had cases under the Arms Act and relating to fights.
