Two people were killed and three others injured on Monday after unidentified assailants opened fire on a group gathered outside a shop in the Angadpura neighbourhood of Moga, Punjab, triggering sharp political condemnation from both Congress leader Sachin Pilot and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The brazen daylight attack has reignited a fierce debate over law and order under the Bhagwant Mann-led state government.

How the Attack Unfolded

According to preliminary information, the victims were sitting outside the shop when a black SUV pulled up at the site. The occupants of the vehicle allegedly opened indiscriminate fire at the group before fleeing the scene. Five people sustained injuries in total — four men were struck by bullets, while a fifth was reportedly hit by bullet splinters. Two of the injured subsequently succumbed to their wounds and were declared dead; the remaining victims were admitted to a hospital for treatment.

What Investigators Have Said

Moga police chief Sartaj Singh Chahal confirmed that a police team reached the scene after receiving information about the shooting. Investigators have initiated a formal inquiry and are examining the circumstances of the attack. According to preliminary information, an old enmity may have been behind the assault; however, the exact motive is yet to be established, officials said.

Political Backlash: Pilot and Badal Speak Out

Congress leader Sachin Pilot posted on X: 'Deeply disturbing to learn about the open firing in Moga. The tragic state of affairs in Punjab is not just a law and order issue, but a reflection of the deepening crisis of governance, public safety, and accountability that demands urgent attention.'

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was more caustic in his criticism, posting on X: 'The shooting incident in Moga in broad daylight is absolutely horrifying, Angadpura turns into a warzone as gangsters fire indiscriminately. Innocents are left critically injured and battling for life. Guru-Dokhi @BhagwantMann, is this your Rangla Punjab? You have pushed the state into absolute breakdown of law & order. Criminals roam free with impunity while law enforcement is reduced to a helpless spectator. Punjab is bleeding.'

Pattern of Concern in Punjab

This incident comes amid a broader series of gang-related shootings that have drawn recurring criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. Critics, including both opposition Congress and the SAD, have repeatedly argued that organised crime and gangster violence continue to operate with alarming visibility across the state. Notably, the attack in Angadpura — a residential neighbourhood — signals that such violence is no longer confined to isolated or peripheral areas. The Mann government is yet to issue a formal response to Monday's incident.