Dr Neha Shoree, a zonal licensing authority with the Drug & Food Chemical Laboratory in Kharar in Punjab, was shot dead in her office on Friday (Mar 29) by a chemist who later committed suicide by shooting himself, The Tribune reported.

Dr Neha Shoree had earlier raided and cancelled the licence of the outlet run by the chemist following recovery of intoxicants and sale of unauthorised drugs.

Angered over her action, the angered chemist a man walked into the office of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at Kharar near Chandigarh and fired four bullets on the 38-year-old woman officer, two of which hit her. Dr. Neha Shoree who was sitting in her room on the first floor of the building.

The assailant was identified Balwinder Singh, a resident of Morinda, He tried to run away but shot himself when he was nabbed by an alert laboratory attendant in the office. Balwinder is said to have obtained an arms licence from the Ropar administration earlier this month following which he purchased a revolver.

A grievously injured Dr Neha Shoree was rushed to the nearby Civil Hospital in Kharar by her office colleagues. She was subsequently shifted to a private hospital. She was referred to PGIMER, but she died on the way.

According to the local police, Dr Neha Shoree’s six-year-old niece was present in her office in Kharar during the shooting.

Dr. Neha Shoree is survived by a two-year-old daughter and husband Varun Monga, who works in a bank.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has directed the state DGP to ensure a speedy probe into the murder of Dr Neha Shoree. He said no one would be allowed to interfere or intimidate any public servant in the discharge of their duties.

The Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sought Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s resignation over the gruesome killing.

Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Harpal Singh Cheema said the Amarinder Singh government had failed to curb the rising crime graph, which had sent shockwaves among law abiding citizens of the state.