Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
A Sikh caretaker couple was shot dead inside a gurdwara in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday in an attack that police are investigating as a possible targeted killing.
According to police, the incident occurred in the Babu Mohalla area of Mardan, around 60 kilometres from Peshawar. Unidentified gunmen reportedly entered the gurdwara premises and opened fire on the couple while they were performing their duties inside the shrine.
The victims have been identified as Jagannath and his wife Asma Wanti, both of whom died at the scene due to multiple gunshot injuries. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting.
Police and security agencies rushed to the site after receiving information about the attack and launched an investigation.
District Police Officer Masood Ahmed said the motive behind the killings remains unclear, and authorities are examining all possible angles while working to identify and arrest the suspects.
Investigators are also looking into reports that the gurdwara’s CCTV footage has gone missing following the attack, raising concerns among local Sikh leaders. The missing surveillance footage is being treated as an important aspect of the investigation.
Special investigation teams have been formed, and police are using forensic and technical assistance to trace those responsible for the killings.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly member Suresh Kumar condemned the attack and demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators. He has reportedly given police 24 hours to show progress in the case, saying that such an incident is deeply alarming despite the presence of security personnel in the area.
