Fearing a threat to his son’s life, slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s father followed him with guards when he did not take his security men with him and witnessed the 28-year-old fall to a hail of bullets, according to an FIR.
Balkaur Singh, who took Moosewala and two others to a civil hospital on Sunday after the attack in Mansa district, said in his police complaint that his son would get threats to his life from gangsters for extortion. On Sunday, when he learnt that Moosewala had left home without his security guards or his bullet-proof vehicle, he went after him.
The famous singer and Congress leader was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Sunday, a day after the AAP-led state government brought down his security cover from four Punjab Police commandos to two. When Balkaur Singh reached Jawahar Ke village, he saw a Corolla car with four occupants trailing Moosewala’s vehicle.
“After his son took a turn towards village Barnala, a Bolero vehicle with four youths stopped in front of his son’s Thar,” said the FIR. The occupants of the Corolla and Bolero started indiscriminate firing at his son, Balkaur Singh said, adding that the assailants later fled. He said many bullets hit his son.
He took Moosewalla and the two other occupants to a civil hospital with the help of some locals but his son died, he added. The two others escaped with injuries.
Police registered a case of murder at the Mansa police station (City-1) after Balkaur Singh’s complaint. He said in the complaint that his son kept a bulletproof Fortuner after receiving threats to his life from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and other gangsters.
Yesterday, Moosewala went out with his cousin Gurpreet Singh and neighbour Gurwinder Singh, who were injured in the atack, without taking his two security men in his Thar vehicle.
Punjab Police has termed Moosewala’s murder the result of an inter-gang rivalry and said the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was behind the killing. At least three weapons were used and 30 empty cases recovered from the site.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, who gained fame as Sidhu Moosewala, was left with two Punjab Police commandos after the state police withdrew two of four commandos from his security cover.
Courtesy: PTI
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)