The assassination of a singer in the northern Indian state of Punjab has sparked outrage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, also known as Sidhu Moose Wala, was shot by unidentified people on Sunday evening while travelling in the state’s Mansa district. He was 28 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The attack also injured two other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Police said they were investigating the incident and suspected gang involvement in the crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to state police chief VK Bhawra, a Canadian-based gangster claimed responsibility for the attack on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Moose Wala’s family has demanded that the police chief apologize for linking his death to gang rivalry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The murder of Moose Wala has sparked a political storm in the state, with opposition leaders questioning why the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Mr Mann, had reduced security for the singer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to police, Moose Wala’s security detail had been reduced from four to two commandos, and these officers were not travelling with the singer when he was attacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moose Wala was one of over 400 people in Punjab whose security detail was recently withdrawn or reduced by the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Mann stated that the action was taken in part as part of a government effort to combat so-called “VIP culture,” which elevates politicians above ordinary citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to police officials, it was also done to increase security ahead of the upcoming anniversary of the contentious Operation Blue Star, in which the Indian army stormed the Sikhs’ most sacred shrine in 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the government’s move became contentious after the names of those on the list were leaked on social media, with some claiming that it increased the risk to their lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The assassination of a singer in the northern Indian state of Punjab has sparked outrage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[216],"tags":[1197],"class_list":["post-17620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-sidhu-moose"],"yoast_head":"\n