Punjab AAP leader Lucky Oberoi shot dead in his car by bike-borne assailants

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Lucky Oberoi was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Punjab’s Jalandhar in a shocking early-morning attack on Friday. The 38-year-old was attacked moments after he stepped out of a gurdwara in the city’s Model Town area, police said.

Attack outside gurdwara

Jalandhar Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur Randhawa said, “As per the CCTV footage gathered from the spot, the incident occurred around 7:30 am, soon after the victim sat in his Mahindra Thar.”The car was parked in the gurdwara premises when two motorcycle-borne attackers opened fire from close range. Police said 8–10 rounds were fired using two sophisticated weapons, shattering the windows of Oberoi’s SUV and damaging another vehicle parked nearby.

CCTV footage collected from the spot shows the assailants fleeing immediately after the firing.

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Officer Randhawa also said that Oberoi was rushed to a local hospital in an unconscious condition but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

City sealed, investigation underway

“We received information around 8 am, following which teams of senior officials and forensic experts were rushed to the spot to gather key evidence. The entire city has been sealed with nearly 15 nakas set up”, she further stated.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the attackers had conducted a recce and were aware of Oberoi’s regular visits to the gurdwara. Police said old enmity has emerged as the primary motive behind the killing, and no extortion angle has surfaced so far.

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Political reactions

The killing triggered sharp political reactions, with opposition parties targeting the AAP government over law-and-order concerns. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill criticised the state government in a post on X, alleging a breakdown of public safety in Punjab. He wrote, “The AAP government has turned Punjab into a playground for criminals and gangsters. Rule of law has been replaced by the rule of the gun.”

Police said efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest the accused, and further updates are awaited as the investigation progresses.