Ludhiana, Jan 6 — Police have arrested one man and are searching for six others in connection with the murder of former kabaddi player Gagandeep Singh alias Baba, who was shot dead in public view in Jagraon’s Manuke village on Monday.
The 36-year-old was targeted near the local grain market, with police suspecting the killing was linked to an ongoing rivalry involving another kabaddi player, Ekam.
“The accused were upset with Ekam and believed Gagandeep was backing him,” Jagraon SSP Ankur Gupta said. “After an earlier altercation, they returned armed and opened fire.”
Police said the attackers were led by Gursewak Singh alias Motu, who, along with his accomplices, stopped Gagandeep and Ekam before firing at them. Gagandeep died on the spot.
In a chilling detail, investigators said the assailants later went to the victim’s house and asked his family members to collect his body from the scene.
“The car used in the offence has been recovered,” Gupta said, adding that multiple police teams were carrying out raids across suspected locations.
Ludhiana Rural Police have registered a case against Gursewak and others. One accused has been taken into custody, while the remaining suspects are absconding.
The murder comes amid a spate of shootings across Punjab in recent days. Since Friday, separate incidents in Kapurthala, Moga and Amritsar have claimed four lives, raising concerns over recurring violence in the state.
