Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was gunned down in Punjab’s Mansa district on Sunday, a day after the state’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government withdrew the safety of some 420 people including Moose Wala.
Police officer Gobinder Singh told PTI Moosewala, 28, and his two friends were traveling by jeep when they were shot multiple times in the village of Jawahar Ke.
Dr Ranjeet Rai told reporters that Moosewala was brought dead to Mansa Government Hospital. His friends are being treated at another hospital for injuries.
In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, Sidhu Moose Wala challenged Mansa on a Congress ticket. He was defeated by Dr. Vijay Singla of the Aam Aadmi party.
Moose Wala, whose first name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, joined Congress in November. The Indian Express reports that when Congress granted him a ticket from Mansa Assembly constituency as Mansa MP Nazar Singh Manshahia rioted against the party.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific murder of Siddhu Moosewala. No one involved will be spared. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his fans across the world. I call on everyone to remain calm” , said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who belongs to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and made his statement on Twitter.
“Deeply shocked by the killing in broad daylight of Sidhu Moose Wala. Punjab and Punjabis across the world have lost a talented artist with mass connection, who could feel the pulse of people. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and his fans around the world,” Congress Leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Twitter.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said police should file a complaint against Chief Minister Mann for “negligence of chief ministerial duties”.
“We have warned the government of Punjab to pay attention to the situation in Punjab. I demand an FIR against Bhagwant Mann for negligence in his duties as Chief Minister which cost the life of Sidhu Moosewala. Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal should be reserved,” Sirsa said of the AAP leaders.
The rapper has come under fire for allegedly promoting drug and gun culture in his songs. He had filed a complaint with the police for allegedly encouraging violence through his song ‘Sanju’, PTI reported.
He has been booked under the Arms Act and Disaster Management Act in Barnala after photographs on social media showed him firing an AK-47 rifle at a shooting range during a lockdown for Covid-19.
Hundreds of people had their police security stripped after the AAP came to power in Punjab in March. The first order came on March 12 and the last on May 28, according to the Indian Express.
Punjab Police have withdrawn security from Moose Wala with more than 420 people including former MPs, jathedars of two Takhts, Deras chiefs and some policemen, PTI reported.
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