The brutal murder of a prominent kabaddi promoter at a tournament in Mohali was a calculated move to seize control of Punjab's lucrative kabaddi empire, police revealed on Tuesday. The victim, Kunwar Digvijay Singh, widely known as Rana Balachauria, was allegedly betrayed by members of his own inner circle, who led him straight into the hands of waiting assassins.
The Trap at Sohana Kabaddi Cup
The shocking incident unfolded on Monday evening at the Sohana Kabaddi Cup venue in Mohali. According to the Mohali police, Balachauria's trusted support staff lured him backstage under the false pretext of taking selfies with fans. Unaware of the betrayal, the kabaddi athlete and promoter felt secure among his men.
However, two shooters were waiting for him with pistols already cocked. They have been identified as Aditya Kapur alias Makhan and Karan Pathak alias Defaulter Karan. As Balachauria approached, the assailants fired at point-blank range. He was shot in the head and died instantly, while the killers fled the scene on a motorcycle.
A video from the tournament, circulating on social media, captures the sound of multiple gunshots. However, the postmortem report confirmed that Balachauria died from a single gunshot wound. The bullet entered from the top of his head and exited below his chin.
Revenge Claim and Police Investigation
Shortly after the killing, a rival gang linked to Lawrence Bishnoi claimed responsibility on social media. They boasted that the murder was to "avenge Sidhu Moose Wala's murder" and named the shooters. While police have identified the same two men as prime suspects, they have cast doubt on the revenge motive.
Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harmandeep Singh Hans stated that the "Moose Wala revenge" angle is being checked but no concrete link has been established yet. He emphasized that the primary motive appears to be control and dominance over kabaddi tournaments. "The murder was planned with the intention of asserting control and dominance over kabaddi tournaments. There is no personal enmity angle emerging at this stage," SSP Hans said.
The police also confirmed Balachauria's close acquaintance with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who is considered a mentor to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. This marks the second high-profile killing at a kabaddi event in recent years, following the murder of British-Indian player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Jalandhar in March 2022.
Gang Links and Manhunt Underway
Investigators disclosed that both alleged shooters are members of the Doni Bal-Lucky Patial and Bambiha criminal gangs. A third accomplice had also accompanied them to the tournament venue. The support staff members who aided the attackers have been identified by the police.
An FIR has been registered based on the statement of a close associate of Balachauria who was also injured in the attack but is now out of danger. The police revealed that suspect Aditya Kapur is involved in 13 criminal cases across multiple police stations, while Karan Pathak is named in two.
A dozen police teams are conducting raids at several locations to apprehend the suspects. SSP Hans assured that under the leadership of DGP Gaurav Yadav, the Punjab Police is committed to dismantling organised crime networks and ensuring the accused are arrested at the earliest.
In a related development, Balachauria's father, Kanwar Rajiv Singh, reported that a gold bracelet, chain, licensed pistol, and a mobile phone were missing from his son's body. SSP Hans acknowledged the complaint, stating they have identified a man who took the pistol and that his arrest is imminent.
Balachauria was cremated on Tuesday in his native village, Chankoa, in Nawanshahr district's Balachaur. The tournament organizers had obtained all necessary permissions, and the murder occurred after the match of the team sponsored by Balachauria had concluded, as he was exiting the venue.
