One of the most provocative daylight killings of all time, where Punjab police, ambulance firms, and various authorities were called at once, is said to have been by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Lucky Oberoi, who was shot dead in a daylight attack Friday morning. The attack took place in the posh Model Town of Jalandhar in the center of a large Gurdwara and its details should raise serious questions in the law-and-order situation in the state.
The Ambush: Attack in a Posh Locality
It was about 7:55 a.m. The incident took place when Oberoi, a resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar and a well-known local financier and property dealer, had just finished his morning prayers at the Model Town Gurdwara.
- The Attack: Oberoi was boarding his black Mahindra Thar SUV to leave when two unidentified assailants approached from two-wheeler vehicles.
- The Firing: The attackers fired at the vehicle from close range, delivering five to eight rounds. The shattering of the windows of the Thar and the sound of rapid gunfire set off an immediate panic among morning devotees on the streets and local residents.
- Fatal Injuries: Oberoi was wounded several times in his chest and head. Bystanders rushed him to a nearby private hospital, but he was declared brought dead by the medical staff.
#WATCH | Punjab | One Lucky Oberoi shot at by armed assailants near a gurudwara in Jalandhar this morning, confirms Police. pic.twitter.com/I5p63bTo7I
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2026
Who Was Lucky Oberoi?
Lucky Oberoi was a key figure in Jalandhar's political and commercial life.
- Political Ties: He was an intimate aide of Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, in charge of AAP’s Jalandhar Cantt constituency.
- Family Background: His wife, Simarjot Kaur, had contested unsuccessfully last year for an AAP ticket in local municipal corporation elections.
- Business: Outside of politics he was a well-known financier and a real estate professional.
Political Backlash and Police Investigation
The brazen murder has triggered a political firestorm. Opposition leaders including Partap Singh Bajwa (INC) and Shehzad Poonawalla (BJP) have condemned the Bhagwant Mann government, accusing it of a “total breakdown of law and order” in Punjab.
Jalandhar’s Commissioner of Police, Dhanpreet Kaur Randhawa, went to the spot and said a high-level probe is underway there.
“CCTV footage from the entire Model Town stretch is currently being scanned to determine who the shooters are. Forensic investigators have discovered shells at the site. We are studying all angles, including personal enmity and professional rivalry in his finance business,” she said.
