‘Revenge for Moosewala’: Insta Post Under Punjab Police Lens After Kabaddi Player Rana Balachauria’s Murder in Mohali

Rana Balachauria, a kabaddi player and sports event promoter, was shot dead on Monday evening during a local tournament in Mohali’s Sohana area, police said. His real name was Kanwar Digvijay Singh.

The attack occurred around 5:30 pm in Sector 82, as hundreds of spectators and players were preparing for a match. Eyewitnesses reported that a group of men arrived near the venue in a Mahindra Bolero. According to Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans, the attackers approached Rana under the pretext of taking selfies before opening fire. Initial confusion over the gunshots, which some mistook for firecrackers, quickly turned to panic when Rana collapsed with head and facial injuries.

DSP HS Bal, present as the chief guest, and other police officials rushed the injured player to Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where he was declared dead. Videos of the chilling incident circulated widely on social media, with BJP and Congress leaders questioning the AAP government’s handling of security in the area.

Viral Social Media Claim Links Murder to Sidhu Moosewala

A social media post has gone viral claiming responsibility for Rana’s killing, calling it “revenge” for the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala. Posted on Instagram by a smaller gang reportedly linked to the Bambiha gang, the reel, in Punjabi, alleged that Rana had connections to Lawrence Bishnoi and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s gangs. The post also warned players against joining kabaddi teams it claimed were “sponsored” by Jaggu.

Police sources told HT that the post is part of the ongoing investigation, and officials are verifying the claims linking Rana’s murder to Moosewala’s killing.

Moosewala, who rose to prominence as a singer and cultural icon, was killed on May 29, 2022, allegedly by members of the Bishnoi gang while driving near his village Moosa in Punjab’s Mansa district.

Rising Violence in the Region

Rana’s murder is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula region. On December 1, a gangster associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi group was killed in Chandigarh’s Sector 26 in a targeted shooting involving 11 bullets. In November, more than 30 rounds were fired outside a retired government officer’s residence in Mohali’s Phase 7, with the attack later linked to the Kala Rana gang.

The Sohana-Sector 82 area, located near Airport Road with upscale housing projects and markets, has seen a concerning spike in serious crimes, raising questions about security at public events.