Sidhu Moosewala Murder: 8 arrests so far for providing logistics, conducting recce, harbouring shooters

“Those arrested have been identified as Sandeep Singh alias Kekda of Sirsa, Haryana; Manpreet Singh alias Manna of Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda; Manpreet Bhau of Dhaipai, Faridkot; Saraj Mintu of village Dode Kalsia, Amritsar; Prabhdeep Sidhu alias Pabbi of Takhat-Mall, Haryana; Monu Dagar of village Rewli in Sonipat, Haryana; Pawan Bishnoi and Naseeb, both residents of Fatehabad, Haryana. The Police have also identified four shooters involved in the crime,” an official spokesperson said.

Moosewala was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa district on May 29. The state police had termed the incident a case of an inter-gang rivalry and had said the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was behind it. Canada-based Goldy Brar, who is the member of Bishnoi gang, had claimed the responsibility of the murder. This murder was in retaliation of youth Akali leader Vicky Middukhera’s murder that took place last year, he had claimed.

ADGP Pramod Ban, who heads the anti-gangster task force, said Kekda, on the directions of Goldy Brar and Sachin Thapan had kept tabs on the singer’s movements by impersonating himself as his fan. Kekda also clicked selfies with the singer when the latter was leaving his home minutes before his murder, said Ban.

“Kekda has shared all inputs like the singer was not accompanied by his security personnel, number of occupants, vehicle details and he is travelling in non-bullet-proof vehicle, with the shooters and handlers operating from abroad,” Ban said.

He said 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.

The ADGP said 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 Moosewala’s home and surrounding areas through them.

Monu Dagar had provided two shooters and helped assemble the team of shooters to carry out this murder the directions of Goldy Brar, said police.

Pawan Bishnoi and Naseeb had handed over a Bolero vehicle to the shooters and also provided them with a hideout, said Ban.

Ban said four shooters involved in the murder of Moosewala have been identified.

“Names of other persons belonging to Punjab and other states have also emerged, who had played a role in planning, providing logistic support, arms and ammunition and hideouts to the criminals, who carried out this dastardly act,” said Ban.

Strategy-based cohesive efforts are being made by the SIT along with various units of Punjab Police and other agencies to arrest the accused, he said. Operations are being carried out in different states simultaneously to nab the accused at the earliest, said Ban.

The ADGP said the Special Investigation Team, headed by IGP Jaskaran Singh, has been working strategically and cohesive efforts are being made to arrest the identified shooters and other accused persons involved in the murder.