Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Formal Office Shoes Buy Now
Bandhani Chiffon Saree Buy Now
Knitted Turtleneck Buy Now
Puffy Eyes And Dark Circles Treatment Buy Now
Skechers Men's Summits Colsin Slip-In Work Shoe Buy Now
Soft Cotton Muslim Jersey Hijab Buy Now
Mommy & Me Pajamas Buy Now
Midi & Maxi Skirts Buy Now
T-Shirt Beefy-T Heavyweight Buy Now
VIZIO 40 inch Smart TV (VFD40M-08) Buy Now
Essentials Men's Slim Jeans Buy Now
JMIERR Men's Casual Shorts Buy Now
Satin Silk Pajama Set for Women Buy Now
Basics Household Tool Kit With Storage Case Buy Now
JMIERR Mens Cotton Linen Shirt Buy Now
STGAubron Gaming Desktop PC Intel Core i7-6700 Buy Now
Men's Ecosmart Fleece Sweatshirt Buy Now
Women's Plaid Shacket Buy Now
Insignia Fire TV 32 inch Smart HD 720p Buy Now
Women's Active Mini Dress Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
When guns and lives go for a song

When guns and lives go for a song

The Hindu
Saturday, June 4, 2022 12:36 AM GMT

Singer and rapper Sidhu Moosewala’s murder in broad daylight and the outpouring of grief have highlighted his popularity and the violent gang wars of Punjab. Vikas Vasudeva reports on the various dimensions of the State’s ‘gun culture’

Braving the scorching heat on the afternoon of May 31, Sidhu Moosewala’s fans gathered outside his house to get a last glimpse of their idol, a widely popular Punjabi singer and rapper. Holding his pictures and posters, the anguished fans, mostly young men, some of whom were dressed like their gun-caressing macho hero, thronged his native village Moosa in Mansa district. His inconsolable parents sat near his body at home. The singer’s favourite tractor, which had figured in many of his music videos, was bedecked with flowers for his last journey to a family-owned field for the cremation.

Two days earlier, at around 5.30 in the evening, 29-year-old Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, had been driving a black SUV with two companions accompanying him when their vehicle was blocked by two others — one from the front and one from behind — on the outskirts of Jawaharke village, close to Moosa. Moosewala had been given security cover by the Punjab police but this had been trimmed a day earlier. Director-General of Police (DGP) V.K. Bhawra later said Moosewala had asked his two commandos to stay at home and did not use his private bulletproof car that day.

The men in the vehicles began firing indiscriminately at the black SUV. Photos that emerged later of Moosewala’s vehicle showed bullet holes in the glass and blood-splattered seats. He was declared ‘brought dead’ at the local hospital. The initial postmortem report noted over two dozen bullets lodged in Moosewala’s body. The police recovered around 30 empty cases from the spot which showed that three different arms had been used to fire at him. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the killing through a Canada-based operative, Goldy Brar.

A few metres away from the spot where Moosewala was shot, Gurdeep Singh, 18, runs a small cycle repair shop. Days later, he was still in a state of shock. “I was fixing a cycle when I heard the gunshots. I thought someone was firing celebratory shots in the air. But within seconds, I realised that the gunshots were growing louder and louder. I ran for my life. Later, I came to know that Moosewala was killed in the firing. It was a horrific experience. The way those bullets were fired... many people could have died here,” he said, pointing to the bullet imprints on the gate of an adjacent house and the walls of the building that has his shop.

The murder of the high-profile singer in broad daylight sent shock waves across Punjab. It placed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has been in power for only two and a half months in a State where it is a new entrant, on the back foot over allegations of a breakdown of law and order. And it has highlighted the problem in Punjab of gang wars, which have become increasingly bloody and frequent over time.

Moosewala was born in Moosa village. His father, Balkaur Singh, was in the Army before taking up a job in the Punjab government. His mother, Charan Kaur, is the village head (Sarpanch) of Moosa village. Moosewala studied electric engineering but was keen on following a career in music. He moved to Canada after graduation. In 2016, he wrote lyrics for the song ‘License’, sung by Ninja. The following year, he shot to fame as a singer when his track ‘So High’, released on his YouTube channel, became a hit. In 2018, his debut music album ‘PBX 1’ was released and made it to Canada’s Billboard Albums chart. Moosewala’s famous songs include ‘Issa Jatt’, ‘Selfmade,’ ‘Tibeyan Da Putt’, ‘Tochan’, ‘Legend’, ‘Game’ and ‘Bambiha Bole’. His last song, presciently titled ‘The Last Ride’, was released last month. His song videos often featured swanky cars, tractors and guns, and sometimes masked men.

Moosewala also had a brief stint in politics; he contested the 2022 Assembly elections as the Congress party candidate from Mansa constituency and lost by a large margin.

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
40 products, 3 firms blacklisted in two years by T.N. Medical Services Corporation Premium

Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation blacklists 40 products and three firms for quality control failures in two years.

A checklist every homebuyer should know

Professional property inspection in India reveals structural, plumbing, electrical, and pest issues, providing crucial insights for home buyers.

T.N. tribal woman, untraceable for 10 days, delivers healthy baby in Chamarajanagar hospital

T.N. tribal woman, untraceable for 10 days, delivers healthy baby in Chamarajanagar hospital

Caste, feudal systems still reflect in MP judiciary where district judges treated as 'shudras': HC

Madhya Pradesh High Court criticizes caste system and feudal mindset in judicial structure, restoring benefits to terminated judge.

Mortal remains of trainee pilot killed in Canada flown in

Mortal remains of Sreehari Sukesh, trainee pilot killed in Canada, flown to Kochi; funeral arrangements made.

Operation Sindoor strikes sent clear message to Pakistan: Army chief Upendra Dwivedi

Indian Army Chief Gen. Dwivedi highlights surgical strikes in Operation Sindoor, sends clear message to Pakistan on terrorism support.

Father, daughter killed in road accident in Shadnagar

Father and daughter killed by speeding water tanker in Shadnagar X Roads, investigation ongoing, driver in custody.

One dead, several injured as omnibus rams vehicles on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore

One dead, several injured as omnibus rams vehicles on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore

Hyderabad Weather July 26 | City wakes to morning rain, waterlogging slows traffic in multiple areas

Hyderabad experiences morning rain, waterlogging, and traffic congestion, with IMD forecasting heavy rainfall in surrounding districts.

Three Maoists killed in gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand

Three Maoists killed in gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Gumla district, belonging to splinter group JJMP.

Water level rises in Godavari; officials sound alert in Agency habitations of Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district

Officials in Eluru district's tribal Agency areas issued flood alerts as Godavari River water levels rose, urging villagers to evacuate.

Andhra Pradesh Government aims to redefine tourism

Andhra Pradesh plans grand World Tourism Day celebration, focusing on unique experiences and partnerships with Mastercard's Priceless Experiences program.

Bihar Assembly polls: Nitish government hikes monthly pension of retired journalists by ₹9,000 to ₹15,000

Increase in pension for retired journalists in Bihar to ₹15,000/month, with lifetime benefits for dependents, announced by Chief Minister.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Tendering process for Arebetta crossing station in final stages, SWR tells MP Srinivas Poojary

SWR informs MP about final stage of Arebetta Crossing Station tender process, enhancing train capacity on Mangaluru-Hassan line.

Piped water supply to be suspended in many parts of Chennai for three days

Piped water supply to be suspended in many parts of Chennai for three days

Sites identified for SIPCOT Industrial Estate near Sankarankovil, Neo Tidel Park in Kanniyakumari

Sites identified for SIPCOT Industrial Estate near Sankarankovil, Neo Tidel Park in Kanniyakumari

Sandra Thomas ups the ante by filing nomination for president of Kerala Film Producers’ Association

Malayalam film producer Sandra Thomas challenges current leadership of Kerala Film Producers’ Association, wearing purdah for nomination.

Watch: What are Epstein files and why is MAGA demanding it?

President Donald Trump is now facing renewed scrutiny over his links to Epstein. During his campaign, Trump said he would have no problem releasing the Epstein files. But since returning to political life, he has dismissed them as fabrications, claiming they were pushed by his Democratic opponents. Let’s take a look at what Epstein files are and why it has once again become the center of political controversy in the United States.

Delhi Government moves Supreme Court against blanket ban on overage vehicles

Delhi Govt challenges SC ban on old vehicles, seeks emission-based criteria over age-based restrictions for pollution control.

Like with Operation Sindoor, India can bring ‘adversary’ to talking table with fewer than 50 weapons: VCAS Tiwari

IAAF's Air Marshal Tiwari highlights the effectiveness of Operation Sindoor in bringing adversaries to negotiation table.

Pakistan says it's close to U.S. trade deal, Washington gives no timeline

Pakistan's foreign minister meets Rubio in Washington, close to finalizing a trade deal with the US.

India looks forward to boosting ties with Maldives, committed to support capacity building: PM Modi

Prime Minister Modi strengthens India-Maldives ties, discussing infrastructure, technology, and climate change with Maldivian leaders.

Two suspected Bangladeshi smugglers shot dead at International Border in Tripura

BSF shoots dead Bangladeshi smugglers at South Tripura border; 2 Indians arrested, medicine worth ₹15 lakh seized.

Are coworking spaces entering apartments?

Coworking spaces in residential areas redefine work-life balance, fostering community and convenience while reshaping urban development.

Kolkata law college to deploy ex-Army men for security after gang rape of student on campus

South Calcutta Law College to replace private security guards with Army veterans following gang-rape incident, official confirms.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us