A leader of the Shiv Sena was shot dead late Thursday night in a targeted attack, leaving a young boy injured in the violent incident. The victim, identified as Mangat Rai alias Manga, was the Moga district president of the Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena.
The attack occurred around 10 PM as the 52-year-old Manga stepped out of his home to buy groceries. According to police reports, he was ambushed by three unidentified assailants. Initially, a stray bullet missed Manga and struck a 12-year-old boy passing by. In a desperate attempt to escape, Manga fled the scene on a motorcycle, but the attackers pursued him and opened fire again, fatally wounding him. He was rushed to a local hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The boy was initially treated at Moga Civil Hospital before being transferred for further care.
Following the incident, six individuals, along with some unknown suspects, have been booked based on a complaint filed by Manga’s wife. An ongoing investigation is actively seeking leads in the case.
While authorities suggest the shooting may stem from personal rivalry, Manga’s family contests this claim, stating he had no known enemies. Family members and supporters demonstrated at Pratap Chowk, demanding swift action and arrests, criticizing the current law and order situation in Punjab.
In a separate incident on the same night, gunfire erupted at a salon in Bagiana Basti, where three men on motorcycles opened fire at the owner, Devender Kumar, wounding him in the leg. Kumar was also transported to Moga Civil Hospital for treatment. The investigation into this attack is ongoing.
