A chilling act of violence shocked Punjab on Saturday night (15 November), when Naveen Arora, the son of senior RSS leader Baldev Raj Arora, was shot dead in the heart of Ferozepur’s bustling Mochi Bazaar. The incident has triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the crumbling law and order situation in the Aam Aadmi Party–ruled state.
Naveen, whose family has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for three generations, ran a shop in the market and lived nearby at Sadhu Chand Chowk. According to police reports, two unidentified assailants approached him as he was closing his shop and fired multiple shots, one striking him in the head. He died instantly. The attackers fled toward Baan Bazaar before authorities arrived.
A Targeted Killing in a Crowded Market
The shooting occurred near a UCO Bank branch, causing chaos as terrified bystanders ran for cover. Locals rushed Naveen to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Preliminary investigations indicate a case of targeted killing, the attackers had followed Naveen closely before executing the strike.
Police have collected CCTV footage from nearby shops and are working to trace the escape route of the suspects. Multiple teams have been deployed across Ferozepur, and checkpoints have been established to prevent the culprits from fleeing.
Protests and Outrage Over Punjab’s Deteriorating Law and Order
The killing sparked widespread protests across the city. Markets were shuttered as BJP workers, traders, and residents took to the streets demanding justice. The protestors blamed the Bhagwant Mann government for failing to maintain basic law and order in Punjab.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the killing, calling it “a complete law and order collapse in Punjab.” He criticised the state’s AAP government, alleging that “criminals roam free while police are busy serving political masters.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ashwini Mehta, President of the Business Association, said the murder reflected the “utter failure” of the administration. “Criminals no longer fear the law. Every week we hear of shootings, grenade attacks, and political murders. This can’t go on,” he said.
A Pattern of Violence
The gruesome killing of Naveen Arora follows a disturbing pattern of politically and communally charged violence in Punjab in recent years, from the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala to the targeted killings of activists and traders. With the latest attack, residents fear the return of a climate of intimidation that Punjab had long struggled to overcome.
Police have assured swift action and promised to arrest the killers soon. But for many in Ferozepur, the fear remains that the culture of impunity has once again taken root in Punjab’s streets.
