CHANDIGARH: Famous Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu Moose Wala, popular as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Punjab’s Mansa district on Sunday. The incident happened a day after the state government withdrew his security cover.
According to reports, Moosewala, 27, was driving an SUV when a group of 10-12 assailants fired more than 20 rounds at the singer and two of his friends at Jawahar Ke village.
Moosewala’s friend who was travelling with him in the vehicle has succumbed to his injuries in the hospital where he was being treated.
Incidentally, Moosewala had contested the 2022 Punjab Assembly election on a Congress ticket from the Mansa constituency. He had lost his debut poll to AAP’s Dr Vijay Singla. Dr Singla was recently sacked from the Punjab Cabinet on corruption charges.
The incident happened a day after Punjab Police ordered the withdrawal of security of more than 420 people, including former legislators, Jathedars of two Takhts, heads of deras and police officers. Two of his four gunmen were withdrawn with the new government order. Mansa SSP Gaurav Toora said that Moosewala had not taken along the remaining two gunmen attached with him at the time of the incident.
Also, he was travelling in a vehicle that was not bulletproof. Normally, he used his bullet-proof Toyota Fortuner for commuting, police said.
Sources told The New Indian that the brutal killing of Moosewala has revealed detailed planning behind his murder. CCTV footage of minutes before the attack, shows criminals trailing Moosewala. Killers knew he wouldn’t be travelling in his bulletproof car. They followed him and killed him from close range. Sources also said that gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar are under lens.
Later on, Punjab Police said that the Canada-based gangster Brar, a close aide of gang leader Bishnoi, has claimed responsibility for Moosewala’s murder. This comes after a purported post on a popular networking website where they claimed responsibility for the attack.
“What’s more shocking is the fact that the removal of Moosewala’s security was made public just a day before. He was gunned down by people who were waiting for the withdrawal of his security. It requires a thorough investigation to identify the conspirators,” sources told The New Indian.
Meanwhile, under fire for withdrawing the security cover, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had appealed to people to stay calm.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the gruesome murder of Siddhu Moosewala. Nobody involved will be spared. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his fans across the world. I appeal to everyone to stay calm” Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in his tweet.
Controversies were not new to Moosewala. He created a stir by allegedly misusing the name of 18th-century Sikh warrior Mai Bhago in his track with panthic bodies demanding his arrest for hurting Sikh sentiments. He later apologised.
Moosewala, who was facing charges of promoting violence and gun culture in his song ‘Sanju’, had joined the Congress on December 3, 2021.