Gurdaspur, Jan 28: A 45-year-old medical store owner was killed on Wednesday morning in Dera Baba Nanak after unidentified gunmen opened fire at point-blank range. Ranbir Singh Bedi was in the process of opening his pharmacy in the main market around 8 am when two individuals on a motorcycle approached and discharged their weapons before speeding away from the scene.
Local residents moved Bedi to a nearby medical facility immediately following the attack, but he passed away due to critical head injuries. Batala Senior Superintendent of Police Mehtab Singh arrived at the location with forensic experts to oversee the initial collection of evidence.
“We have registered a case and initiated a thorough investigation. Multiple teams are scanning CCTV footage to identify the culprits,” the SSP said regarding the ongoing efforts to track the suspects.
Officials recovered four empty shells from the crime scene as part of the evidence gathering. Investigations are currently examining reports that Bedi had been the target of significant financial demands from criminal elements. A voice recording circulating on social media platforms, allegedly from a known operative, suggests a demand of ₹50 lakh was made prior to the shooting.
The incident occurs amid a broader push by authorities to curb organized crime through initiatives like Operation Prahar and Gangsteran Te Vaar. These state-wide measures are designed to disrupt the logistical frameworks of various modules. Local administration officials noted that security remains a priority and efforts to dismantle these networks are being intensified across the border districts to ensure public safety.
