In less than 24 hours after his security was curtailed by the government, singer-turned-actor-politician Sidhu Moosewala, with a huge fan base running into millions, was shot dead by gangsters close to his ancestral village in Mansa in Punjab in broad daylight on Sunday, police said. He was 29 years old.
He was on the wheel in Mahindra Thar SUV when the assailants, believed to be 10-12, fired more than 20 rounds at point-blank range at the singer and his two friends, who got grievous injuries. Moosewala got seven-eight bullets.
It is learnt that AK-47 assault rifle was used in the crime as its shells were recovered from the crime scene.
Moosewala was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. The civil surgeon at Mansa hospital said Moosewala was brought dead, while the two others were referred to another hospital for treatment.
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Two of his four gunmen were withdrawn with the new government order. Moosewala was without security when the crime happened.
Also he was travelling in a vehicle that was not bullet proof. Normally, he used his bullet-proof Toyota Fortuner for commuting, police said.
Leaving behind his celebrated tag of a top Punjabi rap singer with fans across the globe, Moosewala, belonging to native Moosa village, made his electoral debut as a Congress candidate from Mansa for the February 20 Assembly polls.
Moosewala, who was often caught on the wrong side of the law but broke several records, did not mind in singing couplets of his songs and posing for countless selfies with the electorate, largely first-timers, during his campaigning.
Many of his songs featured in the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 charts.
With assets of Rs 7.87 crore as per his nomination affidavit, the singer-turned-politician, who loved to ride on an open jeep, was facing four criminal cases, including two for obscene scenes.
Controversies were not new to Moosewala. He created stir by allegedly misusing the name of 18th century Sikh warrior Mai Bhago in his track 'Jatti Jeonay Morh Di Bandook Wargi' 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.
Moosewala, who created a niche for himself with his unique rapping style, was known for hit tracks like 'Legend', 'Devil', 'Just listen', 'Jatt da Muqabala' and 'Hathyar', among many others.
He played the protagonist in Punjabi film 'Moosa Jatt'. His another film 'Yes I Am A Student' was a story that sheds light on the hardship of international students but inspires them to never lose hope.
"I am not entering politics for status or to earn praise. I want to become a part of the system to transform it. I am joining the Congress to raise the voice of the people. I am joining the Congress as the party has leaders who have come from common families," Moosewala, who went to Canada in 2016 as an international student, had said on the day he joined politics.
Responding to the crime, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the brutal murder of Moosewala was shocking.
Brutal murder of Sidhu Moosewala is shocking. My profound condolences to the bereaved family.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) May 29, 2022
Law and order has completely collapsed in Punjab. Criminals have no fear of law. @AAPPunjab government has miserably failed. Nobody is safe in Punjab!
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal should be booked for the murder of popular Punjabi singer-turned-politician Sidhu Moosewala.
BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa slammed AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal over the decision to withdraw security cover of the Punjabi singer. Sirsa said the AAP government in Punjab on Saturday had removed the security of several people and made the list viral on social media, putting them at risk.
"Law and order situation in Punjab is totally out of control now," Sirsa said, and demanded Mann and Kejriwal be booked for the murder of Moosewala.
In a series of tweets, in-charge of BJP's National Information and Technology Department, Amit Malviya said: "Punjab is up in flames! Is popular singer Sidhu Moosewala's cold blooded murder the change AAP promised? Arvind Kejriwal and Raghav Chaddha, who run Punjab by proxy, must be held accountable for this murder. Did they not know of the threat before withdrawing his security?
"As CM of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal himself has a large security entourage but leaders in a sensitive border state like Punjab must not have security. To makes matters worse, Punjab Govt released names of those whose security was withdrawn. It was an open invitation to assailants," he said.
Malviya further said that Kumar Vishwas, former founder-member of AAP, had warned of Arvind Kejriwal's dalliance with forces that are inimical to Punjab's peace and security. "It has just been a little over 2 months and we can already see the dangerous footprints of the bloody game that is afoot. Scary," Malviya added.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said Kejriwal and AAP Rajya Sabha Member Raghav Chadha are directly responsible for the murder of Moosewala on Sunday, and both of them should apologise and explain what is happening in Punjab today.
"Those who do not understand and know Punjab, are running Punjab through remote control sitting in Delhi. Today, Kejriwal and Chadha are two persons controlling Punjab by sitting in Delhi," Patra said.
Canada-based gangster Goldi Brar, a close aide of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, on Sunday took responsibility for the killing of singer-turned-actor-politician Sidhu Moosewala in Punjab.
Many aides of the gang have been arrested by Punjab Police in the past.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed shock over the killing and appealed 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 everyone to stay calm.
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) May 29, 2022
Artists such as Kapil Sharma, Shehnaz Gill, along with actors Ajay Devgn, and Swara Bhaskar also expressed shock over the singer's passing away.
Satnam shri waheguru 🙏 very shocking n very sad, a great artist n a wonderful human being, may god give the strengths to his family 🙏 #sidhumoosewala pic.twitter.com/hfMDxxxBRt
— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) May 29, 2022
Kise da jawaan dhee ya putt es duniya toh chala jaave, es toh vadda dukh koi nhi ho sakda duniya te. Waheguruji mehar kareyo🙏🏻 #sidhumoosewala
— Shehnaaz Gill (@ishehnaaz_gill) May 29, 2022
Stunned by the shocking death of #SidhuMoosewala. May Waheguru give his loved ones strength in their hour of grief. RIP departed soul 🙏 Still trying to wrap my head around this one. pic.twitter.com/voGupsgZ2B
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) May 29, 2022
This is so tragic 💔 Moosewala was amongst the first artists to lend support to the #FarmersProtest
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) May 29, 2022
Deeply unfortunate.
Condolences to the bereaved families. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 https://t.co/9EHJ1eTcdc
In less than 24 hours after his security was curtailed by the government, Moosewala, with a huge fan base running into millions, was shot dead by gangsters close to his ancestral village in Mansa in Punjab in broad daylight on Sunday, police said. He was 29 years old.
Moosewala was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. The civil surgeon at Mansa hospital said Moosewala was brought dead, while the two others were referred to another hospital for treatment.
