Hoshiarpur: A 62-year-old woman, wife of a retired Punjab Police sub-inspector, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Hoshiarpur district early Saturday morning, police said.
The victim, identified as Rachna Devi, a resident of Mahdawani village in the Garhshankar area, was returning home on foot after paying obeisance at a nearby religious kutia when she was attacked.
According to police, the incident occurred around 5 am when the woman was walking alone back to her house. Two assailants allegedly intercepted her and opened fire at close range. She was hit by three bullets and collapsed on the spot.
Hearing the gunshots, local residents rushed to the scene and immediately took her to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.
Following the incident, police sealed the surrounding area and launched a search operation. CCTV footage from nearby locations is being examined to identify and trace the attackers. However, police said the cameras installed near the religious kutia had limited range, suggesting the crime may have been carried out after careful planning.
Family members told police that Rachna Devi routinely visited the religious site in the early morning hours. At the time of the attack, the area was dark, which allowed the assailants to flee easily.
The victim’s husband, Shyamlal, retired as a sub-inspector from the Punjab Police two years ago. The family has been residing in Mahdawani village since his retirement.
Garhshankar police have registered a case of murder and said investigations are underway to ascertain the motive behind the killing. No arrests have been made so far.
