Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu Moosewala, a Congress lawmaker and prominent Punjabi musician, was shot dead near Mansa on Sunday, only days after the Punjab government decreased his security protection, as well as that of many others.
Moosewala, 28, was shot while driving his SUV with two people in hamlet Jhawahar Ke in Mansa district, police said, and was confirmed dead at the Mansa Civil Hospital.
“Moosewala left his residence in Moosa village about 4.30 pm,” Punjab Director General of Police Viresh Kumar Bhawra said. He was driving his jeep with two passengers at 5.30 p.m. when two cars trailing him intercepted his vehicle and shot at him.”
Moosewala’s security cover was decreased from four to two on May 26 as part of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) government’s security trimming exercise, reportedly to enhance police manpower for ghallughara diwas (marked to protest Operation Bluestar).
The Punjab Police has ordered the protection of 424 people, including MLAs, religious leaders, dera chiefs, and retired police officials, to be withdrawn or pruned. Officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, the Radha Soami Satsang Beas chief, Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, and Dera Sachkhand Ballan chief Sant Niranjan Dass are among the religious figures whose security protection has been lowered or eliminated.
On Sunday, Moosewala did not take “the two commandos who were part of his security detail nor his private guards, telling them that he was going for a round,” according to Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora.
The death “appears to be the outcome of inter-gang rivalry,” according to DGP Bhawra, because Moosewala’s manager Shagunpreet Singh’s name was mentioned in the Vicky Middukhera murder case.
Vicky Middukhera, the head of the Shiromani Akali Dal, was shot dead in a market in Mohali’s Sector 71 in August last year. Three shooters were apprehended, one of them was Moosewala’s manager Shaganpreet. Shaganpreet has been missing since then.
The suspected participation of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in the killing is being investigated, according to DGP Bhawra. On Sunday, hours after Moosewala’s murder, Goldy Brar, a Canadian-based accused member of the Bishnoi gang, posted on Facebook, claiming responsibility for the death and stating that authorities failed to move against the singer in connection with Middukhera’s murder.
According to the DGP, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed the Inspector General (Bathinda Range) to form a special inquiry team to look into the event.
Over the previous few years, Moosewala, who originated from Moosa village near Mansa, has been the voice of numerous superhit tunes. He ran for Mansa Assembly seat on a Congress ticket earlier this year, losing by 63,323 votes to AAP’s Dr Vijay Singla – the minister who was fired by the AAP administration and detained earlier this week on alleged corruption allegations.
In November of last year, Moosewala was welcomed into the Congress with great enthusiasm. The Congress current MLA from Mansa Assembly constituency, Nazar Singh Manshahia, had defected when the party gave him a ticket, declaring he would reject the singer’s candidacy.
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