CHANDIGARH: In a chilling sequence that unfolded in under a minute, a routine afternoon in Sector 9 turned into a crime scene — one that is now being seen as a stark warning of how organised gangs are tightening their grip on the city.Realtor Chamanpreet Singh alias Chini Kubaheri had just stepped out after a gym session and got into his SUV when he was ambushed. CCTV footage shows a gunman approaching the vehicle the moment it moved out of the parking lot. Within seconds, shots were fired through the passenger-side window.As Chamanpreet, already hit, tried to escape, the attacker ran around the SUV and fired repeatedly at point-blank range. The vehicle rolled forward briefly before coming to a stop — the victim slumped inside.The brazen attack, carried out in the middle of a busy stretch near Madhya Marg, left bystanders stunned. Police later recovered a dozen empty cartridges from the spot, pointing to the sheer intensity of the assault.Threats before the killingWhat has added a deeper layer to the case is the victim’s recent complaint to police about an extortion threat. Chamanpreet had reportedly received a demand of Rs 50 lakh, allegedly linked to operatives of the Bambiha gang.Investigators are now examining whether the killing was a fallout of extortion, gang rivalry, or past criminal links.Hours after the murder, gangster Lucky Patial claimed responsibility through a social media post, alleging Chamanpreet was an “informant” against his group and warning that “action will be taken” against anyone sharing information with rivals. He also claimed the victim’s involvement in the earlier killing of Gurvinder Singh alias Guri — an undertrial shot 17 times outside the district administrative complex in Mohali earlier this year. Police have not yet verified these claims. Pattern of violence emergingThe killing is not being seen in isolation. It is the fourth firing incident in Chandigarh in less than three months — a pattern that police sources say reflects growing friction between rival gangs.In December 2025, Inderpreet Singh alias Parry was killed in Sector 26 in a case linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Weeks later, on January 16, bike-borne shooters opened fire outside a businessman’s residence in Sector 21. A note left behind read, “With Love From Mohabbat Randhawa and Pawan Shaukeen,” followed by a WhatsApp call allegedly demanding Rs 5 crore in extortion and claiming links to Bambiha gang aides.City’s sense of security shakenThe latest shooting has triggered unease among residents and business groups, especially as it occurred in a high-footfall, central location.Voices across the city are now calling for stronger intelligence and visible policing. Concerns range from gangs entering the city to carry out targeted attacks, to the lack of deterrence despite repeated incidents.Former UT adviser Dharam Pal said the city, once considered low-crime, is now witnessing a surge in major incidents and stressed that police must step up vigilance and intelligence gathering, as earlier targeted crackdowns on drug-linked violence had proven effective. Echoing the sentiment, senior advocate Manmohan Lal Sarin said Chandigarh is “no longer as safe as before”, with serious crimes occurring almost daily, including daylight murders in the heart of the city, and called for urgent action to restore control. Residents, too, are gripped by fear, with many saying the recent spate of killings and stabbings has sparked panic and raised concerns about a return to the “dark days” of violence, urging police to reassure citizens and assert control over criminals. Chandigarh Business Council chairman Neeraj Bajaj said such incidents have left people anxious and wary, while FOSWAC chairman Baljinder Singh Bittu went further, warning that the city risks turning into a “gangland”, citing frequent shootings and questioning how criminals are entering so freely. Retired Army officer Col Gursewak Singh said residents no longer feel safe, especially at night, pointing to reports of youths roaming with weapons and a lack of police presence, and called for increased patrolling to restore public confidence.Police have registered a case and launched a manhunt for the attackers, who are believed to have fled towards Mohali. A motorcycle suspected to have been used in the crime has been recovered.
