Sidhu Moosewala murder: NIA raids in 3 states to probe terror link

Sidhu
Moosewala, a Punjabi gangster rap artist turned politician, was shot dead from point
blank range on May 29, 2022, a day after the state’s new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
government decided to slash his security detail along with hundreds of others.
Nearly three months later, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday,
September 12, raided places across north India to find the workings of terror
gangs in Sidhu Moosewala’s killing, ANI reported.

The NIA
raids were carried out at multiple locations in Delhi, National Capital Region
(NCR), Haryana and Punjab, ANI reported citing sources. The searches were
conducted in tandem and with the help of local police personnel. A government
official told ANI, on condition of anonymity, that the gang members being
investigated are linked to the killing of Sidhu Moosewala.

Probe into
Sidhu Moosewala’s death threw up names of gangsters such as Lawrence Bishnoi
and Goldy Brar. While Lawrence Bishnoi is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, Brar is
based out of Canada. Both these people have been of NIA’s radar since the
premier sleuthing agency lodged a case.

Sidhu
Moosewala, who enjoyed wide popularity among the rural and semi-urban Punjabi
youth for his songs that have sometimes been criticised for glorifying violence
and guns, recently ran for elections during the Assembly polls in the state. He
ran for the elections on a Congress ticket and was defeated by AAP’s Vijay
Singla.

Also Read | Who is Priyavrat alias Fauji, sharpshooter arrested in Sidhu Moosewala murder?

On May 29 this
year, Moosewala was shot dead near Jawaharke village in Punjab’s Mansa
district. Those who killed him fired 30 rounds of bullets at Moosewala who was
found dead slumped on the driver’s seat by locals, media reports say.

In June, the Delhi Police arrested three people –
Priyavrat alias Fauji (26), Kashish (24) and Keshav Kumar (29). According to
the Delhi Police, the team of shooters that killed Moosewala was led by
Priyavrat who is from Haryana’s Sonipat.