Mohali, March 30: A woman drug inspector was shot dead in Punjab by a chemist whose licence she had cancelled following a raid 10 years ago. Dr Neha Shoree, who was posted as the state FDA’s Zonal Licensing Authority since 2016, was killed at the Drug & Chemical Testing Laboratory near Mohali on Friday morning. The attacker, identified as 50-year-old Balwinder Singh, committed suicide by shooting himself after he was cornered by a mob.

In 2009, Neha cancelled Balwinder's licence after 35 types of tablets used by drug addicts were recovered from his chemist shop during a raid. According to the police, Balwinder killed Neha in revenge. He reached the FDA office on his motorbike around 10:30 am. He entered Suri’s office and fired two bullets at her, the police said. "One bullet hit Neha on the temple and another on the chest," Mohali SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar told a leading daily.

According to the police, Balwinder also shouted 'Happy Holi' after shooting down Neha. He tried to escape but was blocked by people at the gate. "He then took out his revolver, which he bought earlier this month, and shot himself in the chest and the head," Bhullar said. Neha and Balwinder were rushed to a private hospital nearby, where the drug officer was declared brought dead while the attacker died on way to PGIMER, Chandigarh. Drug Regulator Slaps Notice to Johnson and Johnson for Violating Legal Provisions in Product Ad.

Neha was a resident of Panchkula, while Balwinder hailed from Morinda. She is survived by a two-year-old daughter and husband Varun Monga, who works in a bank. Balwinder is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. Neha's six-year-old niece was in office when the shooting took place. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a probe into the murder and directed the state DGP to get to the bottom of the case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 30, 2019 09:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).