PHAGWARA: A day-long wave of tension that gripped Phagwara on Wednesday began to settle late in the evening after senior police officials visited the protest site and announced the arrest of one of the accused involved in the assault on Shiv Sena Punjab vice president Inderjit Karwal and his son Jimmy (Zimmi) Karwal.
The city witnessed a complete shutdown earlier in the day as hundreds of residents, joined by representatives of various political, social, and religious organisations, staged a massive dharna demanding swift arrests in the case. The protest was triggered by a violent attack on the father–son duo late Tuesday evening, an incident that sparked outrage across Hindu organisations and local groups.
Tensions began to ease when DIG Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla, accompanied by SSP Gaurav Toora and SPs Madhvi Sharma and Gurpreet Singh, reached the dharna site and informed demonstrators that one accused—identified as Kanoj—had been arrested. The protesters agreed to lift the agitation after issuing an ultimatum to the police to apprehend all remaining suspects by Saturday, warning that a more intense agitation would begin from Sunday if the demand went unmet.
Speaking to the media, SSP Toora and SP Madhvi Sharma confirmed that the arrested accused was found in possession of a country-made pistol. Police have identified three primary suspects: Tanish alias Bhinda, believed to be the main conspirator; Sunil Salhotra; and Kanoj, who is now in custody.
According to the FIR filed by SHO City Usha Rani, the victims were intercepted near Gaushala Bazar at around 6:25 pm on Tuesday by a group of armed assailants. The attackers allegedly surrounded and brutally assaulted them with the intent to kill, later firing gunshots into the air to terrorise bystanders before fleeing. The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital Phagwara, where senior officers remained stationed until late at night to oversee the situation.
By Wednesday morning, anger had intensified across Hindu organisations, prompting a complete bandh supported by Shiv Sena Punjab, Shiv Sena (UBT), Bajrang Dal, General Samaj Manch, and Hindu Suraksha Samiti. Markets remained closed while police patrolled sensitive areas to ensure peace. At Gaushala Road, hundreds of activists launched a protest dharna, accusing authorities of negligence and demanding immediate arrests.
As normalcy gradually returned to the city, police confirmed that special teams had been formed to track the remaining suspects and monitor developments closely. The incident has renewed concerns about public safety in Phagwara, prompting renewed calls from community and political leaders for stronger preventive measures. Residents now await swift arrests and reassurance that peace and security in the city will be upheld.