Pune, 16th May 2026: Panic spread across Pimpri-Chinchwad after two unidentified men allegedly opened fire outside AJ Furniture Mall, with the incident later being linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang through a viral social media post.
According to police information, the attackers arrived on a motorcycle and fired multiple rounds at the showroom before fleeing within seconds. The sudden firing created chaos in the area as traders and locals rushed for safety. The entire incident was captured on nearby CCTV cameras.
Police said the accused appeared to have carried out the attack in a planned and fearless manner. While no injuries were reported, the firing has triggered fear among businessmen in the locality.
Soon after the incident, a threatening social media post surfaced online claiming responsibility for the firing in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The post, allegedly shared by Shubham Lonkar, targeted mall owner Ashok Nayan and accused him of involvement in MD drugs and hawala operations. It also warned of further violence.
The viral message also mentioned another businessman linked to ‘Veer Furniture’ and issued threats against him, further escalating tension in the trading community. Police are currently verifying the authenticity and origin of the post.
Following the firing, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police rushed to the spot and launched a detailed investigation. A forensic team collected evidence from the scene, while officers began analyzing CCTV footage to identify and trace the two shooters.
Police are probing whether the firing was linked to extortion, gang rivalry, or a larger organized crime network. The incident has once again raised concerns over law and order and the growing use of public firing and online threats to create fear.
