GUNSHOTS ON THE MAT! Kabaddi Star Rana Balachauria Murder Case Cracks Open in Punjab

Punjab cops tighten noose on kabaddi murder accused after late-night encounter.

In a major breakthrough that has intensified the debate over Punjab’s law-and-order situation, police have neutralized one suspect and arrested two others in connection with the sensational murder of kabaddi player and promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria, who was shot dead at point-blank range during a live kabaddi tournament in Mohali on Monday, December 15, 2025, just 10 days after his marriage.

In a late-night operation near Lalru on December 17, Punjab Police killed Harpinder Singh alias Middu of Tarn Taran in an encounter, identifying him as a key handler and logistical coordinator for the shooters, while two policemen were injured in the exchange and are undergoing treatment.

Simultaneously, police arrested alleged mastermind Aishdeep Singh, a handler linked to the Doni Bal gang, from Delhi Airport as he attempted to flee to Muscat, along with another accused, Jugraj Singh. Investigators revealed that the attackers lured Rana Balachauria by approaching him under the guise of taking a selfie before opening fire during the Sohana Kabaddi Cup, triggering shockwaves across the state. 

The two main shooters have been identified as Aditya Kapoor alias Makhan and Karan Pathak alias Defaulter Karan, both from Amritsar, who remain at large. While the Bambiha gang has claimed responsibility on social media, citing revenge for the Sidhu Moose Wala killing, Mohali SSP has indicated that preliminary findings point towards a brutal gang rivalry aimed at asserting control over the lucrative kabaddi tournament circuit, turning a sporting event into a chilling display of organized crime and raising serious questions about public safety in Punjab.