A chilling social media post claiming responsibility for the murder of kabaddi player and sports promoter Rana Balachauria in Mohali has come under the scanner of Punjab Police. The Instagram reel, which went viral hours after the killing, described the attack as “revenge” for the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
According to police sources, the post allegedly put out by a smaller gang said to be linked to the Bambiha gang claimed that Balachauria had connections with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and rival Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s gang. It also issued a warning to players, urging them not to participate in kabaddi teams purportedly backed by Jaggu. Investigators have confirmed that the post is being treated as a crucial lead, though its claims are yet to be independently verified.
Rana Balachauria, whose real name was Kanwar Digvijay Singh, was shot dead on Monday evening at a kabaddi tournament in Mohali’s Sohana area. The incident occurred around 5.30 pm in Sector 82, as players were warming up and hundreds of spectators had gathered at the venue. Eyewitnesses said a group of men arrived in a Mahindra Bolero, approached Balachauria under the pretext of taking selfies, and then opened fire at close range.
Initially, many in the crowd mistook the gunshots for firecrackers, but panic erupted when Balachauria collapsed after being hit in the head and face. The sound of gunfire was captured on the tournament’s livestream, which later circulated widely on social media.
Police officials present at the event rushed Balachauria to Fortis Hospital, Mohali, where he was declared brought dead. Senior officers, including Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans, said multiple teams are investigating the murder, examining CCTV footage, social media activity, and possible gang links.
The killing adds to a recent spate of violent crimes in the Chandigarh–Mohali region, intensifying political criticism and raising fresh concerns over law and order in Punjab.
