Gurdaspur firing: BJP leader Vijay Soni survives attack at petrol pump
Synopsis
A senior BJP leader in Gurdaspur survived a point-blank firing at his petrol pump after returning fire with his licensed revolver — and the attack was reportedly preceded by a ₹2 crore extortion demand. It is the latest in a worrying string of strikes on BJP leaders and offices across Punjab, sharpening the law-and-order confrontation with the AAP government.
Key Takeaways
Two masked motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on BJP leader Vijay Kumar Soni at his Bhagwanpur petrol pump in Gurdaspur late on Wednesday night.
Soni, head of the BJP's trade cell, returned fire with his licensed revolver and escaped unharmed; no casualties were reported.
The attack was reportedly preceded by an extortion demand of ₹2 crore .
CCTV footage of the entire incident has been recovered and is being analysed by police.
This is the latest in a series of attacks on BJP leaders and offices in Punjab, including a 11 May office vandalism by around 20 masked youths and an April explosive attack outside the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh .
Two masked motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Kumar Soni at his petrol pump in Bhagwanpur, Gurdaspur district of Punjab, late on Wednesday night, officials said. Soni, who heads the party's trade cell, escaped unharmed after returning fire with his licensed revolver, forcing the attackers to flee. The attack was reportedly preceded by an extortion demand of ₹2 crore.
How the attack unfolded
According to officials, Soni was present at his fuel station in Bhagwanpur when two men with covered faces arrived on a motorcycle and began firing indiscriminately at the premises. CCTV footage recovered from the petrol pump has reportedly captured the entire sequence — the attackers' arrival, the burst of gunfire, and Soni's swift counter-response.
Soni drew his licensed revolver and fired back, prompting the assailants to abandon the attack and speed away. No casualties were reported.
Police investigation underway
Police teams reached the spot soon after being alerted and have begun a multi-pronged probe. Investigators collected ballistic evidence, secured the scene, and are analysing the CCTV footage frame-by-frame to identify the two accused.
Officials said all angles are being examined, including the reported ₹2 crore extortion threat that allegedly preceded the firing. Efforts to trace the motorcycle and the shooters are underway.
A pattern of attacks on BJP leaders in Punjab
The Gurdaspur incident is the latest in a string of attacks targeting BJP leaders, offices, and workers across Punjab in recent months — incidents that have included shootings, vandalism, crude explosive attacks, and intimidation.
On 11 May, around 20 masked youths allegedly stormed a BJP district office, vandalised the premises, threw ink at local leaders, pelted stones, and reportedly fired shots in the air while fleeing, raising slogans against the party. Similar acts of vandalism were reported from Zirakpur in Mohali district, Ludhiana, and Balachaur during the same period.
In April, unidentified individuals allegedly hurled a crude bomb or grenade-like device outside the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh.
Political fallout
The BJP has repeatedly accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of failing to maintain law and order and of not providing adequate security to political workers and leaders. The Gurdaspur attack is expected to sharpen that confrontation, particularly given the alleged extortion angle, which points to organised criminal involvement rather than purely political motivation.
What's next
Police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest the two assailants, and security at BJP establishments and around senior functionaries in the border district is being reviewed. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
Point of View
From office vandalism in Mohali and Ludhiana to a crude bomb outside the Chandigarh party office, yet a pattern-level law-and-order response remains absent. The AAP government will frame this as an isolated criminal act; the BJP will frame it as state failure. The truth likely lies in a porous border district where extortion networks have learned that political targets generate maximum noise and minimum accountability.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vijay Kumar Soni and what happened to him?
Vijay Kumar Soni is a senior BJP functionary and head of the party's trade cell in Punjab. Two masked attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on him at his petrol pump in Bhagwanpur, Gurdaspur, late on Wednesday night, but he escaped unharmed after returning fire with his licensed revolver.
Was anyone injured in the Gurdaspur firing?
No casualties were reported in the attack. Soni's swift counter-response with his licensed revolver forced the two assailants to abandon the attack and flee the scene.
Why was the BJP leader allegedly targeted?
The attack was reportedly preceded by an extortion demand of ₹2 crore, according to officials. Police are probing the extortion angle along with other possible motives, and CCTV footage from the petrol pump is being analysed to identify the accused.
Is this attack part of a wider pattern in Punjab?
Yes. Multiple incidents involving BJP leaders and offices have been reported across Punjab in recent months, including the vandalism of a BJP district office by around 20 masked youths on 11 May and a crude explosive device hurled outside the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh in April.
What has the BJP said about Punjab's law and order?
The BJP has repeatedly accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of failing to maintain law and order and of not adequately protecting political workers and leaders. The Gurdaspur attack is likely to intensify this criticism.
