In a major breakthrough in the gruesome killing of Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh, alias Sidhu Moose Wala, the Punjab Police on Tuesday said that at least eight persons have been arrested in the matter for providing logistic support, conducting recce, and harbouring the shooters.
Moose Wala, who left his house around 4.30 pm on May 29 along with two persons Gurwinder Singh (neighbour) and Gurpreet Singh (cousin), was shot dead by some unidentified persons in broad daylight while he was driving his Mahindra Thar vehicle.
The police have also identified four shooters involved in the crime, said Parmod Ban, Punjab’s ADGP, Anti-Gangster Task Force on Tuesday.
Those arrested have been identified as Sandeep Singh alias Kekda of Sirsa (Haryana), Manpreet Singh alias Manna of Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda (Punjab), Manpreet Bhau of Dhaipai in Faridkot (Punjab), Saraj Mintu of Dode Kalsia village in Amritsar (Punjab), Prabhdeep Sidhu, alias Pabbi of Takhat-Mall (Haryana), Monu Dagar of Rewli village in Sonipat (Haryana), and Pawan Bishnoi and Naseeb, both residents of Fatehabad (Haryana).
Divulging roles of the arrested persons, ADGP Ban said that Sandeep alias Kekda on the directions of gangsters Goldy Brar and Sachin Thapan had kept tab on the singer’s movements by impersonating himself as his fan. Kekda also clicked selfies with the singer, when the latter was leaving from his home minutes before his murder, he added.
“Kekda has shared all the inputs like the singer was not accompanied by his security personnel, number of occupants in the vehicle, vehicle details, travelling in non-bullet-proof vehicle Mahindra Thar, with the shooters and handlers operating from abroad,” said ADGP Ban.
Further, he said that Manpreet Manna had provided a Toyota Corolla car to Manpreet Bhau, who further delivered the car to two persons - suspected to be the shooters - on the directions of Saraj Mintu, who is a close aide of Goldy Brar and Sachin Thapan.
ADGP said that the fifth accused Prabhdeep Sidhu alias Pabbi had provided shelter to two associates of Goldy Brar, who came from Haryana in January 2022, and also got conducted recce of Sidhu Moose wala’s home and surrounding areas through them. Another accused Monu Dagar had provided two shooters and helped assemble the team of shooters to carry out this murder on the directions of Goldy Brar.
He said that Pawan Bishnoi and Naseeb had handed over Balero vehicle to shooters and also provided them hideout.
Meanwhile, ADGP Ban said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by IGP PAP Jaskaran Singh, has been working strategically and cohesive efforts are being made to arrest the identified shooters and other accused persons involved in the crime.