IAS Officer’s Residence Targeted by Stray Bullet on Diwali

On the night of Sunday, an unsettling incident unfolded in Chandigarh Sector 24, where unidentified miscreants discharged a bullet towards the residence of Varinder Kumar Sharma, a distinguished 2009 batch IAS officer belonging to the Punjab cadre. The targeted house is situated in a well-secured area, hosting government residences for bureaucrats and judicial officers.
Shortly after the incident, Sharma reassured the public through a message, asserting the safety of himself and his family. He explicitly stated the absence of any personal animosity with anyone, thereby ruling out a targeted attack. Sharma conjectured that the bullet might have been a stray one from celebratory firing transpiring in one of the neighbouring residences during Diwali night.
The incident occurred around 11:10 pm on Diwali night, adding a surreal touch to the ordeal. A police complaint was swiftly lodged, and law enforcement is reported to be taking all necessary legal measures in response to this unnerving event.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the aftermath of the incident. However, investigators are currently considering two plausible scenarios. One line of inquiry explores the possibility that unknown individuals fired the bullet and hastily retreated from the scene. Alternatively, the police are also considering the theory that a designated gunman in the area might have discharged a bullet from his service revolver as part of Diwali celebrations.
The locality, being a residential area with high-profile government figures, is typically well-guarded. Security personnel in Sector 24 are currently under scrutiny, with authorities collecting details about the weapons issued to them. Preliminary findings suggest that the fired bullet may originate from a .32 or .38-bore weapon.
Despite the shocking nature of the incident, Sharma, who presently serves as the Managing Director of Punjab Health Systems Corporation and Secretary of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, affirmed that he had not received any prior threats.