In a significant breakthrough, the Punjab Police has apprehended two alleged shooters involved in the brazen killing of prominent kabaddi promoter Kunwar Digvijay Singh, popularly known as Rana Balachauria. The arrest came after a wide-ranging, intelligence-driven operation that spanned five states.
Multi-State Manhunt Culminates in West Bengal Arrest
The Punjab Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), with critical support from police forces in Sikkim, Mumbai, and West Bengal, along with central agencies, arrested the accused from Howrah in West Bengal. The identified shooters are Karan Pathak alias Karan Defaulter and Tarandeep Singh. In a related development, Akash, a close relative of foreign-based handler Amar Khabe Rajputa, has also been taken into custody. All arrested individuals are being brought to Punjab for further interrogation.
The murder that triggered this pan-India chase occurred on December 15, 2025. Rana Balachauria was shot dead in SAS Nagar (Mohali) while a kabaddi tournament was underway, highlighting the audacity of the attackers.
Kabaddi Tournament Control and a Vengeful Narrative
Investigators have stated that the primary motive behind the assassination is rivalry for control and dominance over lucrative kabaddi tournaments in the state. The sport, deeply rooted in Punjab's rural culture, has seen escalating stakes, often leading to violent clashes.
Shortly after the murder, gangster Dony Bal claimed responsibility on social media. His posts framed the killing as "revenge" for the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, alleging that Rana had sheltered the singer's killers. The Dony Bal-Prabh Dasuwal gang also claimed the victim was close to rival gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. However, the Punjab Police has largely dismissed the Moosewala revenge angle as a cover story, insisting the core issue is kabaddi-related rivalry.
The police action following the murder has been swift. An alleged planner, Harpinder Singh alias Middu, was killed in a police encounter in Mohali's Lalru area on December 17, 2025. Another alleged mastermind linked to Dony Bal, Aishdeep Singh, was arrested at the Delhi airport.
High Court Intervenes Over Law and Order Concerns
The recurring pattern of targeted killings in public spaces has drawn severe judicial scrutiny. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of Rana Balachauria's murder. This action came during a hearing on a separate 2023 petition regarding gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's media interviews allegedly glorifying crime.
Expressing deep concern, the court observed that "criminals are having a free run" and summoned the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to appear in person on January 15. The court has demanded a detailed report from the state government on several critical points:
- Security arrangements at the kabaddi tournament venue.
- The number of police personnel deployed there.
- Steps taken to curb gangster culture, extortion, and targeted killings.
- Measures to prevent the glorification of crime in Punjab.
A senior police officer stated, "Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend remaining associates to completely unravel the case." The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle the networks behind this and other recent violent incidents in the state.
