LUDHIANA: Police have pieced together what triggered the fatal shootout at a Ludhiana wedding that left two innocent guests dead. According to investigators, a failed reconciliation attempt between rival gangsters Ankur and Shubham led to the violence.
Both men—bitter adversaries—were invited to the wedding of Varinder Kapoor. The moment they crossed paths inside the hall, an argument broke out, prompting their friends to separate them. Shubham then stepped out into the lawn.
A mutual friend, JK Dawar, attempted to mediate. Hoping to end the rivalry, he escorted Ankur outside to speak with Shubham. Instead, tempers flared again. Police say Ankur had already summoned his associates, including Jasvir Singh Jassa and Rubal, to the venue.
What followed was a rapid escalation. Ankur allegedly fired the first shot, after which Shubham and his group retaliated. Panic spread as gunfire ripped through the venue, with guests scrambling for safety. Over 30 rounds were fired, according to police.
Dawar was injured in the crossfire, while two attendees—Vasu Chopra, a close friend of the groom, and an aunt, Neeru Chhabra—were killed.
Sources said the initial clash occurred around 11.30pm when both gangs first encountered each other. Though separated at the time, the attempt at reconciliation an hour later proved disastrous.
Of the 12 individuals named in the FIR, six have been identified. So far, only Ankur has been arrested. Additionally, three security guards have been taken into custody for allowing armed individuals into the venue.
Police are now reviewing all available video footage—from CCTVs, professional cameras and guests’ recordings—to trace the sequence of events and identify all those involved.
