Punjabi singer and Congress leader Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was betrayed by a man allegedly posing as his fan. Carrying out investigations into Moosewala’s murder on May 29, the Punjab police claimed to have arrested a suspect-informer who clicked selfies with the renowned Punjabi rapper outside his residence a few minutes before his gruesome killing.
Making a major headway in the case, the Punjab Police, on the basis of a CCTV video footage of 15 minutes before the incident, has arrested Sandeep alias Kekra, who is alleged to have conducted a thorough recce of Moosewala and his whereabouts, and had also informed the “shooters” about his movements and absence of security guards with him on an ill-fated day.
Punjab police’s claims came as it has also made a third arrest in the case from Haryana’s Fatehabad. The arrested person, identified as Davinder alias Kala, was nabbed on Sunday evening, and said to have provided shelter to the two suspects involved in the killing.
Kala is also suspected of providing the Bolero car to the shooters, who gunned down the Punjabi singer in Jawaharke village of Mansa district on May 29.
The suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of gangster Harjit Singh Penta, who was shot dead in Marhi Mustafa village in Moga’s Baghapurana in April. Penta, a member of Devinder Bambiha group, was allegedly killed on the direction of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Notably, the Punjab Police had made the first arrest in Moosewala killing by nabbing Manpreet Bhau of Dhaipe village of Mansa district on May 31. It is alleged that Bhau had provided logistical support to the assailants.
Three days later, the Punjab Police arrested two men linked to the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from Haryana's Fatehabad — Pawan Bishnoi and Naseeb. They were also arrested in a separate case in the Moga district.
Punjab police have been accessing each and every footage that could have possibly traced the movement of Moosewala and also his attackers following him. In one such footage, the police identified the presence of Kekra, a Haryana-based criminal.
Police sources informed The Pioneer that Kekra was said to have been roped in by his long time friend Sachin Bishnoi — Lawrence Bishnoi’s nephew — for conducting the recce.
The police informed that Kekra has some relatives in Moosa village, and he had earlier also visited the village on several occasions. The police maintained that this was the reason why the killers roped in Kekra, who utilised his acquaintance in the village for the purpose.
“Kekra took some friends along with him to Moosewala house on May 29 evening. He waited outside his home for almost an hour, and when Moosewala came out of his house, he clicked selfies with him. He was also seen moving around his Thar (Moosewala’s vehicle) possibly to see who are accompanying him. And when Moosewala left, Kekra is said to have informed the shooters that he is driving the car, and has no security guards with him,” said a police official, who maintained that investigations are still on.
The police sources also maintained that one of Moosewala’s servants had maintained that a person had made a call and was heard saying that Moosewala has left home. On the basis of the same, the police are believed to have arrested Kekra. “The attackers knew that Moosewala was driving and that was why his car’s tyres were first punctured and then the attackers fired on the driver’s seat only,” added the sources.
On May 29, Moosewala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district, a day after the State Government made public its decision to temporarily curtail his security cover till June 7. A total of 19 bullets were pumped in Moosewala, while his cousin and a friend, who were travelling with him, were injured in the attack.
The state police had termed the incident a case of an inter-gang rivalry saying that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was behind the killing. Canada-based Goldy Brar, who is a member of the gang, had claimed the responsibility for the murder.
Moosewala’s father Balkaur Singh has claimed that his son used to get ransom calls from Bishnoi and other gangs. During his meeting with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday in Chandigarh, Moosewala’s father sought justice for him and a probe by a central agency. Earlier, the State Government’s request for a probe by a sitting high court judge into the murder was turned down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Moosewala’s parents also demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or National Investigation Agency (NIA) should assist in that probe.
RAIDS ON SUSPECTED SHOOTER'S RESIDENCE IN TARN TARAN
Going all out to crack Moosewala murder case and nab all the culprits, Punjab Police on Monday raided the residence of the suspected shooter, identified as Jagroop Singh Roopa. Hailing from Jaura village of Tarn Taran district, Roopa was not present at his house at the time of the raid. A history-sheeter accused in NDPS and Arms Act cases, Roopa is suspected to be a close aide of jailed-gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang. He was disowned by his family due to his drug addiction and alleged involvement in criminal cases.
Mansa and Tarn Taran police officials conducted a raid at his home where the family of the suspected shooter claimed that they don't have any connection with their son since 2017.
RAGA TO MEET MOOSEWALA'S FAMILY TODAY IN HIS NATIVE VILLAGE
Congress’ former national president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet the family of slain singer and party leader Sidhu Moosewala on Monday.
Rahul Gandhi was abroad when the killing took place on May 29. He returned this weekend. Moosewala was the Congress candidate from Mansa assembly segment in 2022 Punjab Assembly elections and lost to Aam Aadmi Party’s Vijay Singla. He had joined the Congress party in December, just months before the assembly polls.
The Congress leader will meet Moosewala’s parents to express condolences on behalf of the Congress leadership. Party leaders from Punjab will accompany Gandhi, the sources said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Moosewala’s parents earlier this month. Some senior state Congress leaders have also met them.
On Monday, Congress leader Sachin Pilot met the family of the slain Punjabi singer at his native Mansa village. Speaking to the media, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister said that the killings in Punjab have to stop as such incidents are being carried out to instil fear among the people of Punjab. He further urged the Central and State Governments to give strict punishment to those responsible.
“It's tragic how our leader was killed. An atmosphere of threat is being propagated in the state repetitively. I met the family members of Moosewala and shared their grief. Nothing can be more saddening than for a father to see the death of his young son. Such an incident happened to instil fear in people. Drug mafias, terrorists, and gangsters are getting a foothold (in Punjab). I request the central and state government to take stern action against the culprits who have committed this heinous crime,” said Pilot.
THREAT CALLS TO PROBING COPS
With the Punjab police launching massive search operations not only in Punjab but in other states also to nab those involved in Moosewala killings, Punjab police on Monday claimed that its probing officers were getting “threat calls” from foreign countries to stop the investigations in the matter.
Sources maintained that the SHO of Mansa police station and other senior police officials investigating the case have been threatened to stop conducting the raids or otherwise they have to face the consequences. It has been claimed that the threat calls are being received from foreign countries, including Canada, and every time from a new mobile number.
As the security of officials probing the matter has been intensified, the numbers from which threat calls have been received have also been handed over to the Punjab Police’s Cyber and IT Cell.
To nab the culprits, Punjab police are conducting raids in different districts of Punjab, and also in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
