Ludhiana, JAN 6 — Punjab Police have arrested one accused and launched a manhunt for at least six others in the daylight killing of former kabaddi player Gagandeep Singh alias Baba in Ludhiana’s Jagraon area, officials said on Tuesday.
Gagandeep (36) was shot dead near the grain market in Manuke village on Monday, allegedly due to a rivalry stemming from his support for another kabaddi player, Ekam, police said.
“Several teams have been formed and raids are underway to arrest the remaining accused,” Jagraon Senior Superintendent of Police Ankur Gupta said. “The vehicle used in the crime has also been recovered.”
According to investigators, the assailants, led by Gursewak Singh alias Motu, intercepted Gagandeep and Ekam and opened fire. Police said the accused bore a grudge against Ekam and were angered by Gagandeep’s backing of him.
“The two sides had a clash earlier in the day,” a police officer said. “The accused later returned with weapons and carried out the attack.”
After the shooting, the attackers allegedly went to Gagandeep’s house and told his family members to collect his body from the spot, police said.
A case has been registered by Ludhiana Rural Police against Gursewak and his associates. While one accused has been arrested, more than six others, including the main suspect, remain absconding.
The killing is the fourth shooting incident reported in Punjab in the past four days. A woman was shot dead at her home in Kapurthala on Friday, a Congress worker was killed in Moga’s Bhinder Kalan on Saturday, and a sarpanch was murdered during a wedding function in Amritsar on Sunday.
