A cashier at a well-known medical store was shot dead in a daylight attack on Saturday afternoon in Sector 11, one of Chandigarh’s busiest commercial markets. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 pm, has raised serious concerns over public safety in the crowded area located near the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

According to CCTV footage from the shop, two masked men entered the premises while a third accomplice waited outside on a motorcycle. The victim, identified as Janaki Dass, originally from Rohru in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district, was reportedly engaged in routine work at the billing counter when the attackers walked in. The video shows the assailants approaching him before opening fire at close range.

Preliminary information suggests that the attackers arrived at the location on a motorcycle with three individuals involved in the operation. While all three reached the spot together, two of them entered the shop, and the third remained outside to assist in their escape. The entire sequence unfolded quickly in the busy market area, where multiple customers and shopkeepers were present at the time.

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Police reports indicate that around 13 rounds were fired inside the medical store, allegedly using an automatic weapon. The intensity of the firing caused panic among people in and around the market. Despite the presence of others inside the shop, only the cashier was targeted in the attack, while no other injuries were reported.

After carrying out the shooting, the attackers fled the scene on the waiting motorcycle. The busy Sector 11 market, which houses several chemist shops and sees heavy footfall daily, was quickly secured by police teams. Its proximity to PGIMER further heightened the urgency of the response as authorities cordoned off the area for investigation.

Officials have stated that the motive behind the killing and the identity of the attackers remain unknown at this stage. However, the nature of the attack, including the targeted firing on a single individual, has led investigators to explore the possibility of a planned and targeted killing, while no prior threats to the victim or the shop have been reported so far.

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