Ludhiana: A hosiery trader was stabbed with an ice pick during a brazen daylight robbery attempt at a busy market intersection on Tuesday, triggering a wave of protests from local business owners who say the city has been surrendered to “fearless” criminals.Sushil Jain, 50, was commuting by scooter through the crowded Saidan Chowk when three masked men on another scooter intercepted him. CCTV footage of the incident shows the attackers pushing Jain to the ground before attempting to snatch a gold ring from his finger. When the ring failed to come off, the assailants stabbed Jain at least twice in the chest with an ice pick and kicked him before fleeing the scene.The footage also captured a chilling display of bystander apathy, as several witnesses passed the struggle without intervening. The attack has galvanized the local business community, which shuttered shops on Tuesday afternoon in a show of defiance against the police administration. Dozens of traders gathered on the crime scene, joined by political figures including BJP’s Gurdev Sharma Debi.Symbolic HandoverIn a pointed act of frustration, hosiery traders brought their shop keys to the protest, threatening to hand them over to police as they claimed it was no longer safe to operate. Residents report that snatchings and thefts have become “regular affairs”, with two mobile phone robberies reported in the same area within the last 48 hours. “People are not safe anywhere — neither in their offices nor on the roads,” said Amit Kumar, a local trader. “How can a businessman work in such an environment?”Police ResponseMedical officials have confirmed that Jain is in stable condition at a local hospital despite the brutality of the assault. Inspector Gurjeet Singh, station house officer (SHO) at the Division Number 4 police station, stated that a case was being registered against the unidentified suspects. “The police will arrest the accused for sure,” he said, following a 90-minute standoff that ended only when the cops promised swift action. However, the peace may be temporary. The trader’s union has vowed to reconvene on Wednesday, warning of “intensified protests” if no arrests are made within 24 hours.
