A shocking and frightening incident took place on the night of Saturday (15th November) in Ferozepur, where the son of a senior RSS leader was shot dead in the middle of a busy marketplace.

The victim was Naveen Arora, the son of Punjab RSS leader Baldev Raj Arora. His family had been linked to the RSS for generations. His grandfather, Deenanath Arora, had also been a leader of the Hindu organisation even during the pre-independence period, which shows how long their association has been.

Naveen owned and operated a shop in the Mochi Bazaar area and lived in the nearby locality of Sadhu Chand Chowk. As per the police, he was walking back home after closing his shop when two unidentified men came near him and fired several bullets. One shot hit him directly in the head, causing his instant death. The attackers escaped immediately after the shooting and ran towards Baan Bazaar. Police teams reached the scene soon after they got the information and began their investigation.

A case of target killing

The shooting took place near a UCO Bank branch in a crowded market street. As soon as the gunshots sounded, people who were shopping or working in the market began running in panic. Some locals rushed Naveen to the hospital in hope of saving him, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Police officials have sent the body for post-mortem and are scanning CCTV camera footage from shops around the market to identify the shooters. The first round of investigation suggests that this incident is a planned and targeted killing, as the attackers seem to have followed Naveen closely and shot him from a very short distance.

After the news began spreading, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted strong remarks on X, describing the situation as a “complete law and order collapse in Punjab.” He wrote,
“Even as VVIP security is provided to failed netas of AAP from Delhi, even as police is made to take revenge from political rivals of Kejriwal, people of Punjab suffer,”
and added another sharp statement,
“Whether it’s the killing of Sidhu Moosewala or the murder of Sandeep Thapar. Murder Or Sonu Cheema Killing, or Vikas Bagga Murder, or grenade attacks. Law and order in Punjab has failed thanks to AAP. Super CM Kejriwal and nominal CM Bhagwant Mann must be held accountable,” he said.

Voices of Grief: Family Speaks Out After Naveen Arora’s Killing

The shock of Naveen Arora’s brutal killing has left his family shattered. His father, Baldev Arora, who is also a senior RSS leader, described the painful chain of events that changed their lives within minutes. He recalled that he was quietly sitting in their shop when Naveen stepped out to take his children to the park. According to him, everything seemed normal until a sudden message turned his world upside down. As he explained,
“I was sitting at our shop when my son left to take his children to the park... After 15 minutes, someone informed me he was shot by someone in the way, and that too in a manner that he died on the spot... When we took him to the hospital, they asked us to admit him to another hospital...”

His words reflect the confusion and unimaginable pain the family felt as they rushed from one hospital to another, hoping for a different outcome but facing the harsh reality of his death.

Another relative, Anil Kumar, also shared how shocking and sudden the attack was. He emphasised that Naveen had no enmity with anyone and lived a peaceful life dedicated to his family and community. He recounted,
“Last night around 6 PM, when he (deceased Naveen Arora) was going on his way, two men shot him and fled the spot. He had no conflict with anyone. The men just came and shot him without saying anything... The family has always helped and supported everyone... The police has been backing us since last night and we trust that they will bring justice to us...”

Anil’s statement shows how unpredictable and targeted the attack was, leaving the family without answers about why someone would commit such a merciless act. He also highlighted that the family is cooperating fully with the investigation and trusts the police to track down the killers.

Together, these statements reflect not just the grief but also the uncertainty and fear within the family. They are struggling to understand the motive behind the killing while hoping that justice will be delivered soon. Police investigations continue, and the family waits anxiously for answers that may explain why such a senseless crime took place.

The murder caused anger, fear and shock in the entire city. Shopkeepers shut down the whole market in protest. BJP leaders and local traders gathered on the streets, raised slogans against the government and accused the police of failing to control rising crime. Many of them said that criminals in Punjab are no longer scared of the law and that shootings have now become a common daily concern.

Local BJP leaders demanded quick action and the immediate arrest of the killers. Business association president Ashwini Mehta also condemned the murder strongly. He said the incident clearly shows how much Punjab’s law and order system has collapsed. He warned that such violent crimes will keep happening if the government does not take strict and serious action.

Meanwhile, the police have deployed several teams to search for the attackers. The city has been placed on high alert, and checkpoints have been set up on major roads to block the shooters from escaping.