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 The fatal killing of kabaddi player Rana Balachauria during a live tournament in Mohali on Monday has once again brought Punjab’s gangster ecosystem into sharp focus, where sports, entertainment and money-driven events are increasingly vulnerable to criminal interference.

Written by HARISH MANAV/ Thenewsdose

Chandigarh/Mohali:  The fatal shooting of kabaddi player and promoter Rana Balachauria during a live tournament in Mohali on Monday has once again underscored the deepening nexus between gang rivalries, sports figures and Punjabi celebrities. This trend has increasingly blurred the line between organised crime and public life in Punjab.

Balachauria was shot in the head in the middle of a Sohana Kabaddi Cup event at Sector 82, Mohali,  triggering panic among players and spectators. He later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The Bambiha gang has claimed responsibility, and police are probing the murder through the prism of inter-gang rivalry, officials said.

Sports Grounds No Longer Immune

The incident occurred while a kabaddi match was underway and being streamed live, with players warming up on the field. Gunshots rang out suddenly, initially mistaken for firecrackers, before chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in a Bolero vehicle, fired four to six rounds, and fled. Some assailants are also believed to have escaped on motorcycles. Bullets reportedly passed dangerously close to spectators, highlighting how sports venues—once seen as neutral spaces—are increasingly becoming theatres of gang violence.

Targeted Killing, Not Random Violence

Police said Rana Balachauria was specifically targeted. Investigators revealed that the attackers allegedly posed as fans, approached him asking for selfies, and then opened fire at close range—an execution-style attack reflecting patterns seen in recent gang-linked killings of public figures in Punjab.

Balachauria, whose real name was Kanwar Digvijay Singh, had emerged as a kabaddi team promoter over the past year, a role that often involves large cash flows, betting interests, sponsorship disputes and, in some cases, proximity to robust local networks.

Celebrity Presence Heightens Risk

The presence—or expected presence—of celebrities has repeatedly heightened risk. In Mohali, the firing occurred just 30 minutes before Mankirt Aulakh’s scheduled arrival, echoing past instances where celebrity-linked events have drawn gang attention. Though he was not present, the timing has once again raised questions about the security risks surrounding celebrity-linked events in Punjab.

Recently Married, Rising Profile

Balachauria had married just 10 days ago. He was associated with kabaddi teams from Jalandhar and had brought two teams to the Sohana Kabaddi Cup, organised by the Gurudwara Management Committee and Vedwan Sports Club. He was reportedly finalising semi-final fixtures when the attack occurred.

Police Probe, CCTV Footage Under Review

Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans confirmed that the gang angle is central to the investigation. “The Bambiha gang has claimed responsibility. We are verifying the claim and examining all angles, including old rivalries and possible threats,” the SSP said, adding that four to five bullets were fired.

The entire incident was captured on live cameras, and police are analysing CCTV footage from the ground and surrounding areas to identify the shooters and trace their escape routes.

A Larger Law-and-Order Challenge

The killing has once again brought Punjab’s gangster ecosystem into sharp focus—where sports, entertainment and money-driven events are increasingly vulnerable to criminal interference. What was once confined to personal feuds has now spilt into public spectacles, raising urgent questions about event security, political patronage, and the unchecked rise of organised crime in the state. As investigations continue, the Mohali shooting stands as a grim reminder that in Punjab today, even sports arenas are no longer insulated from the shadow of gang violence.

Gang Angle  Seen in the Music Industry

Senior police officials said the killing appears linked to old enmity and gang rivalry, with possible connections to Bambiha gang member Lucky Patial being examined. The attack mirrors a disturbing pattern seen in recent years where Punjabi singers, athletes, promoters and social media personalities have found themselves entangled—directly or indirectly—in the crossfire of rival gangs, often due to perceived affiliations, extortion demands, or refusal to comply.

The murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala, repeated threats to artists, attacks on event organisers, and now violence at a kabaddi tournament point to a systemic collapse of deterrence, where gangsters increasingly use high-visibility public spaces to send messages.

Moosewala to Mohali Kabaddi Ground- A Timeline of Gang Violence Engulfing Punjab’s Sports and Celebrity World

The killing of kabaddi player and promoter Rana Balachauria during a live tournament in Mohali on Monday is not an isolated crime but the latest flashpoint in a disturbing and well-documented pattern of gang violence that has increasingly entangled sportspersons, Punjabi singers, promoters and public events across Punjab.

As police probe the murder through the lens of inter-gang rivalry, the incident has revived uncomfortable questions about how organised crime has penetrated Punjab’s sporting and entertainment ecosystems.

December 16, 2025 | Mohali: Kabaddi Promoter Shot Dead During Live Match

Rana Balachauria (Kanwar Digvijay Singh), recently married and a rising kabaddi promoter, was shot in the head during a live-streamed kabaddi match at Sector 82, Sohana. Attackers allegedly posed as fans, asked for selfies and opened fire at close range. The Bambiha gang later claimed responsibility. Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh was scheduled to attend the event, but was not present.

May 29, 2022 | Mansa: Sidhu Moosewala Murdered in Broad Daylight

In what became a defining moment for Punjab’s law-and-order narrative, Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead in Jawaharke village, Mansa, in a daylight ambush. The killing was claimed by Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster, with alleged links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, exposing the transnational reach of Punjab-based organised crime.

2023–2024 | Repeated Threats to Punjabi Singers

Following Moosewala’s murder, multiple Punjabi singers—including Gippy Grewal, Parmish Verma, Ammy Virk, Karan Aujla and Diljit Dosanjh—reported extortion threats allegedly linked to overseas gangsters. Several concerts were either cancelled or held under heavy police security, signalling how music events had become soft targets for gang intimidation.

June 2024 | Jalandhar: Kabaddi Player Attacked Over Alleged Rivalry

A kabaddi player associated with a local club in Jalandhar was attacked outside a sports ground following a match. Though he survived, police flagged gang rivalry and betting-related disputes as possible motives.

September 2024 | Ludhiana: Event Promoter Shot At

An event promoter linked to Punjabi music shows was shot at in Ludhiana, allegedly for refusing to pay extortion money. The incident reinforced concerns that organisers of sports and entertainment events are increasingly being targeted.

February 2025 | Bathinda: Threat Letter to Sports Academy

A private sports academy in Bathinda received a threat letter demanding money in the name of a notorious gang. Though no attack followed, police acknowledged that youth sports hubs were coming under gang radar.

Pattern Emerges: Visibility, Money, Message

Police officials say these incidents reveal a consistent pattern:

• High-visibility targets (singers, players, promoters)
• Public settings (concerts, tournaments, matches)
• Symbolic violence meant to assert dominance and instil fear

Sports promoters, especially in kabaddi, often handle cash-heavy tournaments, local sponsorships and betting-linked interests, making them vulnerable to coercion.

Gang Rivalries Go Public

The Mohali attack fits a growing trend where gang rivalries are no longer settled quietly but played out in full public view, often to send a message. Senior police officials confirmed that the possible involvement of Bambiha gang members, including Lucky Patial, is being investigated.

A Deepening Law-and-Order Crisis

From Moosewala’s assassination in 2022 to Balachauria’s killing in 2025, Punjab has witnessed a steady escalation where crime, celebrity culture and sport intersect dangerously. What began as targeted gang feuds has evolved into a broader threat to public safety, raising pressing questions about:

• Event security protocols
• Gang networks operating from abroad
• The shrinking deterrence against organised crime

As Punjab police analyse CCTV footage and live-stream recordings from the Mohali shooting, the larger reality remains stark: sports grounds and cultural stages—once symbols of community pride—are increasingly becoming arenas of fear.