Sources said that gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi and his aides, and Kala Jathedi and Kala Rana are being questioned by the Delhi Police Special Cell in connection with Moose Wala’s murder. They added that the singer’s death might also have links to gangster Goldy Brar. A criminal was recently arrested and sent to Delhi’s Tihar Jail; he was found using a messaging app to communicate with Brar, said sources.
Moosewala, 27, had fought on the Congress ticket from Mansa assembly seat in the recent assembly election and was defeated by AAP’s Vijay Singla. Leaders of Congress and other political parties expressed shock and anger over the killing and blamed the AAP government for the incident.
Sidhu Moose Wala shot dead LIVE updates
Here are the key developments through the day:
Punjab CM agrees to family’s demand for NIA probe
Sidhu’s father, Balkaur Singh, wrote to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann demanding a CBI and NIA investigation into his son’s death.
He also demanded that the case be investigated by a sitting judge of the High Court; that officers who made public the orders regarding withdrawal of security should be held accountable; and that the Punjab DGP should apologise for relating this incident to a gang war.
The Punjab CM has agreed to all of Balkaur Singh’s demands.
“The Punjab government shall be requesting the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to get the case inquired into by the sitting judge of the high court,” he said. The state government shall also ensure full cooperation in this enquiry commission including that from any central agency like the NIA.
Mann further said he had already ordered an inquiry at the highest level into aspects of security reduction and fix responsibility.
Punjab DGP VK Bhawra on Sunday had said that Moose Wala’s murder seems to be an inter-gang rivalry case between Lawrence Bishnoi and Lucky Patial groups.
The singer’s manager Shaganpreet’s name had cropped up in the murder of Youth Akali Dal (YAD) leader Vikramjit Singh alias Vicky Middukhera in Mohali in August last year. Shaganpreet had later fled to Australia.
Moose Wala was shot dead by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in reaction to Middukhera’s murder and they had taken responsibility of the singer’s murder from Canada on social media, the DGP had added.
Police detain 6 people, register FIR
The Punjab Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons after singer Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jawaharke village of Mansa district. Six people have been detained so far in connection with the case.
The 28-year-old was shot at point blank range and was declared brought dead on arrival at the Mansa civil hospital.
30 rounds fired
Mansa senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gaurav Toora said three vehicles are suspected to have been used by the killers as Moose Wala was intercepted at around 5.30 pm by the killers in grey Mahindra Scorpio and white Bolero from front and a white Toyota Corolla from back.
It is estimated that the killers fired some 30 rounds at Moose Wala, who was found slumped in the driver’s seat by locals.
“The singer had been assigned four commandos of Punjab police for protection due to Ghallughara (Operation Blue Star) anniversary arrangements, two commandos were withdrawn from his security. This exercise is undertaken every year to thin out security at this time of various protectees,” the Punjab police chief said.
Youth Congress protests outside AAP office
Chandigarh Youth Congress workers protested against the AAP government outside party office in Sector 39, Chandigarh, on Monday.
#WATCH | Chandigarh Youth Congress protest against AAP govt outside party office in Sector 39, Chandigarh. The secu… https://t.co/zcaW6Szr46
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The killing has sparked outrage in Punjab as the opposition parties blame the AAP government for making the list of 424 protectees from whom the state police had withdrawn the security public despite knowing that it could put the life of these protectees in danger.
BJP delegation meets Punjab Governor
A BJP delegation met the Punjab Governor on Monday in protest against the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala
“We demanded an NIA probe into Moose Wala’s killing. There should be a free and fair investigation. The home ministry is under CM Bhagwant Mann so then why is the Mann government silent,” asked the Punjab BJP delegation.
“Ever since this government came to power, there’s lawlessness. The government isn’t being run by CM Mann. It’s a puppet of Arvind Kejriwal and Raghav Chadha who neither know Punjab nor its sensitivity. We demand that this govt be dismissed,” said Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Kumar Sharma after meeting the Governor.
He added that the Punjab government “reduced security of 424 people and made the list public – risking their security – just for applauds. Such documents are confidential. Action should be taken against people who broke this rule”.
(With inputs from agencies)