Violence broke out in a busy part of the city on Wednesday night, putting passersby, an elderly woman and a three-year-old child at risk.The assailants allegedly attacked the child’s father, a 36-year-old property dealer, and opened fire at his car, with his mother and 3-year-old son inside. The man suffered injuries to his head and leg and a splinter injury near his eye, while his mother and son escaped unhurt.The incident took place around 11:30pm when Jagjot Singh, 36, a resident of Miller Ganj, had gone out for dinner with his mother and son. Police said the attack was linked to a political rivalry.Attacked while getting water for sonJagjot told police that the family was having dinner inside their car when he stepped out to get a water bottle for his son. While he was some distance from the vehicle, at least eight men, whom he knew, arrived armed with weapons.The assailants allegedly fired two shots at him but missed. As he tried to run towards his car, they caught him and assaulted him with sharp-edged weapons, leaving him with injuries on the head and leg.Shots fired at car with mother, child insideJagjot said he managed to get into the car but when he tried to speed away, the assailants allegedly fired multiple rounds at the vehicle and vandalised it, with a terrified woman and toddler inside the vehicle.Fortunately, neither was hit. Jagjot suffered a splinter injury near his eye and drove himself to Ludhiana Civil Hospital for treatment.Police suspect political rivalryJagjot said he had earlier been associated with the Congress and actively participated in election campaigns. He alleged that the accused supported a rival party and had developed a grudge against him.He added that the accused had attacked him at his house about a year ago and fired gunshots.Assistant commissioner of police (Industrial Area-B) Anubhav Jain said police had identified three main accused — Jaswinder Singh, Dilraj and Khushdeep Singh — in connection with the attack involving a pistol and sharp-edged weapons. An FIR has been registered against the trio and their accomplices.Jain said investigations revealed that Jaswinder and Jagjot were earlier politically associated, but fell apart following a dispute. The two sides had clashed previously as well, and Jagjot faced two FIRs in connection with those incidents, he added.Police have formed separate teams to trace the accused.
