FARIDKOT: District chief of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) Mangat Rai Manga was shot dead by unknown assailants in Moga town on Thursday night, the police said.
An 11-year-old boy, Thomas, was also injured in the attack, they said.
The incident occurred around 10 pm on Thursday night when Manga was buying milk near Gill Palace.
Three armed men opened fire at Manga, but the bullet missed him and hit the 11-year-old boy, police said, adding that Manga immediately fled the area on a two-wheeler, chased by the assailants.
During the chase, the attackers fired at Manga again on the Stadium Road and fled the spot.
Manga was taken to a hospital by police where he was declared ‘brought dead’ by doctors. The injured child was initially admitted to the Moga Civil Hospital and later referred to another hospital, DMC, for better treatment, according to an official.
In another incident in Moga, three motorcycle-borne assailants entered a salon in Bagiana Basti around 9 pm for a haircut and fired two shots at the owner, Devender Kumar. One bullet hit Kumar in the leg and he was taken to the Moga Civil Hospital for treatment and later referred to another hospital.
DSP City Ravinder Singh said firing took place at two places on Thursday night.
“A salon owner was injured in Bagean Basti. In another incident, Mangat Rai Manga was shot dead on the Stadium Road and an 11-year-old boy was injured when the miscreants opened fire. Manga’s body has been kept in the mortuary of the civil hospital and an investigation has been initiated in the case,” he said.