Ludhiana, Oct. 20 -- A spate of firearm incidents has once again exposed gaps in public safety across Ludhiana after motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire outside the home of a retired army man who is into real-estate business at wee hours on Sunday in Begoana village. The assailants showered atleast 15 bullets targeting the balcony. The bullets shattered the balcony glass and some bullets hit the walls.

The assailants left a threatening note referencing a "Kaushal Chaudhary Group" and a demand of Rs.5 crore. The 64-year-old realtor Nand Ram was present in the house with one of his relatives, while his family members had gone to their ancestral village in Rajasthan.

The victim, a retired naib subedar (2006), told police he was at home...