Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday, 30 May, announced that the state government would set up a judicial commission under a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to probe the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala.
The announcement came after Mann ordered an inquiry into the decision to lower Sidhu Moose Wala's security, stating that the state government would fully cooperate in the probe into his death and that no one responsible would be spared.
Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead in a village in Punjab's Mansa district on Sunday.
The CM also sought clarification on the Director-General of Police's (DGP) statement on the incident, which the official provided later in the day, saying that he had "highest regards for Moose Wala."
These developments came after Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala's father, Balkaur Singh, wrote to CM Mann seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigative Agency (NIA) probe into the incident, and underlined the above-mentioned demands.
Singh had also reportedly demanded an apology from the Punjab DGP for associating his son's death with a gang war.
What Moose Wala's Father's Complaint Said
In a complaint to the Punjab Police, the 28-year-old's father said that he followed his vehicle with security personnel when unidentified gunmen fired their weapons at the singer, killing him.
He indicated further that Moose Wala had been receiving ransom calls from gangsters for a while, and a number of gangsters had threatened him over phone calls.
The gangsters included the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, NDTV reported.
"My son took the car and left the house with his two friends. He did not take the security with him. When I came to know this, I went after Sidhu with security. When we reached Jawaharke village, a Corolla vehicle was chasing Sidhu's vehicle," the complaint said, journalist Gagandeep Singh reported on Twitter.
The complaint added that four youths were in the car.
"When Sidhu's car turned towards Barnala village, A Balero was parked in front of the turn, in which four more youths were riding," Moose Wala's father resumed.
The complaint reportedly said that indiscriminate firing began from both the vehicles – the Corolla and the Balero.
"Within minutes, the cars sped away. I started shouting and people gathered. I rushed my son and his friends to the hospital where he died," NDTV reported his father as saying.
‘Always Met Us With Open Arms'
Meanwhile, fans from neighbouring vilages started pouring in outside Moose Wala's residence.
Saying that Moose Wala always met his fans with open arms, Sheera, a bricklayer, told The Quint, "We regret voting for Bhagwant Mann as he trimmed Moose Wala’s security. Whenever he met us we used to ask him to let us click a picture with him and he used to allow us."
Sheera, a bricklayer, outside Moose Wala's residence.
(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)
Court Issues Notice to Punjab Govt Seeking Report on Number of People Whose Security Was Taken Away
Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain said, "It is the prerogative of the state to increase or decrease security, but it is a sensitive matter. When you decrease security, it should not come into public space."
"Court has issued notice to the Punjab government asking for a detailed report on the number of people whose security was taken and the reason for which their security was curtailed. Reply has to be filed by the Punjab government on 2 June," he added.
Sidhu Moose Wala's Murder
Moose Wala was shot dead in a village in Mansa district on Sunday.
Hours later, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) VK Bhawra informed, "Gangster Goldy Brar has taken responsibility for the murder. Lawrence Bishnoi gang is behind the murder. At least three weapons were used in the murder."
Later, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Faridkot Range, Pradeep Kumar Yadav, informed, "The attackers have left their car. Teams are after them. We are hopeful that they will be arrested soon. SIT has been constituted to arrest the culprits. We have got some important leads and investigation is underway."
The murder comes a day after Punjab Police curtailed Moose Wala's security cover, along with 423 others as part of the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's crackdown on VIP culture.
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