‘Revenge for Moosewala’: Insta post under police scrutiny after kabaddi player’s killing in Mohali

A viral social media post claiming responsibility for the killing of kabaddi player Rana Balachauria in Mohali has come under the scanner of Punjab Police, with investigators treating it as a key lead in the case.

The Instagram reel, which surfaced shortly after the murder on Monday, describes the attack as an act of revenge for the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Police sources said the post is being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

The message, reportedly uploaded by a smaller criminal group believed to have links with the Bambiha gang, alleges in Punjabi that Balachauria had associations with the Lawrence Bishnoi and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gangs. It also issued a warning to kabaddi players, cautioning them against participating in teams allegedly backed by Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.

The post named multiple individuals and attempted to portray the victim as connected to rival gangs. Senior police officials confirmed they are verifying the authenticity of the account and the claims made in the video, including whether the murder has any connection to Moosewala’s killing.

Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead on May 29, 2022, near his native village Moosa in Punjab’s Mansa district. The murder was attributed to members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, though Bishnoi himself has been lodged in jail for several years. Widely popular during his brief career, Moosewala’s influence has only grown since his death, with his unreleased songs continuing to attract millions of views when released by his father, Balkaur Singh, and associated production houses.