Latest news with #TheKillingCall
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Game, gangs & murder: Kabaddi tourney that turned Sidhu Moose Wala into target
The long-standing gang rivalry that culminated in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala reportedly began over a kabaddi tournament held in Bhago Majra village, near Kharar, in Mohali district in February 2020. Moose Wala was killed in Jawahar Ke village in Mansa district, on May 29, 2022. He was traveling in a jeep with two friends when he was shot. The murder was allegedly planned by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar. The tournament, organised by youths affiliated with the Devinder Bambiha gang, is now being cited by both the police and gangster Goldy Brar as a key trigger in the deteriorating relationship between Moose Wala and jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. According to Punjab Police officials investigating the Moose Wala murder case, Lawrence Bishnoi had warned the singer not to attend the kabaddi tournament, as it was organised by rival gang members — Lucky Patial and his close aide Mandeep Dhaliwal. Bishnoi, who was in jail at the time, reportedly called Moose Wala and cautioned him against participating in any events connected to his enemies. 'This has come out during Lawrence's interrogation. He admitted that he told Moose Wala to stay away from the Bhago Majra tournament. When Moose Wala ignored his warnings, Lawrence told him to be ready to face the consequences,' said a senior Punjab Police official involved in the investigation. The tensions escalated quickly, with Moose Wala's continued associations with members of the rival gang perceived as open defiance by Bishnoi. In a BBC documentary — The Killing Call — gangster Goldy Brar also acknowledged the Bhago Majra tournament as the starting point of the dispute. 'That village belongs to our rivals. Moose Wala promoted them by attending the tournament. Lawrence was very upset and told him we would harm him for this. These mistakes were made in arrogance and were unforgettable,' Goldy Brar told the BBC. This was not Moose Wala's first appearance at events organised by the rival group. In 2019, he had also attended another kabaddi tournament organised by Mandeep Dhaliwal in Ferozepur Banger village near Mullanpur in Mohali. The situation further deteriorated just days after the Bhago Majra incident. On March 17, 2020, Surjit Bouncer, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was gunned down at Sector 38 West light point in Chandigarh. Police suspect the Lucky Patial group orchestrated the killing, intensifying Lawrence's anger towards Moosewala. Investigations also revealed that Mandeep Dhaliwal and Lucky Patial had formed two music labels – Thug Life and Gold Music – allegedly to coerce singers into releasing music under their banners. Notably, Moose Wala later released a song titled 'Thug Life', which some interpreted as either a nod to or mockery of the rival group's branding.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Moose Wala documentary: Mansa court directs BBC to file reply on June 16
A Mansa court on Thursday directed BBC World Service and two others to file their replies on June 16 in a civil suit related to the documentary on the murder of Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala. The matter was heard by civil judge (senior division) Rajinder Singh Nagpal where the counsel for BBC, investigative journalist Ishleen Kaur and programme producer Ankur Jain was ordered to file statements at the next hearing. BBC World Service released the two-part documentary, The Killing Call, on YouTube on June 11, coinciding with Moose Wala's 32nd birth anniversary. The documentary, focusing on the murder of Moose Wala, was initially scheduled to be screened publicly in Mumbai, but due to the growing controversy and legal challenges, it was released on YouTube. The release went ahead despite a legal request from Moose Wala's father, Balkaur Singh, who had approached the Mansa court seeking a stay. Balkaur's counsel Satinder Pal Singh on Thursday said that the counsel for the respondents requested the court hear the matter after the summer vacation. 'Following Balkaur's submission for an early hearing, the court accepted the plea and the respondents were directed to file their statements on Monday,' the lawyer said. Balkaur has already served a legal notice to the broadcaster and lodged complaints with Maharashtra Police, alleging that the documentary contains objectionable content, including personal testimonies and commentary on the Moose Wala murder which is under trial. Singer-turned-politician Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead at Jawaharke near his native village of Musa in Mansa district on May 29, 2022.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Gang rivalry, betrayal, and revenge: The inside story of Sidhu Moosewala's murder
A new documentary titled The Killing Call has shed more light on the murder of Punjabi singer and rapper Sidhu Moosewala, who was shot dead in broad daylight on May 29, 2022. The documentary includes revelations from Goldy Brar, a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who claimed responsibility for ordering the killing. According to Brar, Sidhu Moosewala was allegedly involved in the murder of Youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera, who was a close associate and mentor to both Lawrence Bishnoi and Brar. This, Brar says, was the main reason Moosewala was targeted. Sidhu Moosewala, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, rose to fame for his bold lyrics, flashy persona, and powerful commentary on Punjab's social and political issues. Originally from a small village in Punjab, he moved to Canada in 2016 to study engineering. He quickly gained international recognition, with more than five billion views on YouTube and collaborations with global artists like Burna Boy. Despite his fame, Moosewala's name became entangled in Punjab's ongoing gang rivalries. In The Killing Call, Brar revealed that Moosewala had a friendly relationship with Lawrence Bishnoi dating back to 2018. 'Lawrence was in touch with Sidhu. I don't know who introduced them, and I never asked, but they did speak. Sidhu used to send 'good morning' and 'good night' messages to flatter Lawrence,' Brar said. A close friend of Moosewala, who did not want to be named, confirmed the connection. 'Sidhu said Lawrence Bishnoi called me. Lawrence called him from jail. He said Lawrence liked his music and said Sidhu was doing really well. The communication between the two started in 2017-2018, and continued until after Sidhu moved back to India," the friend said.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
He made mistakes, had to face consequences: Gangster Goldy Brar on Moosewala's murder
Chandigarh, Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar has openly admitted to orchestrating the murder of Sidhu Moosewala, claiming that the Punjabi singer "made some mistakes which could not be forgiven" and "he had to face the consequences". Brar, a close aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, made the confession in a BBC World Service documentary. The British broadcaster released the two-part documentary, 'The Killing Call', on YouTube on Wednesday, also the birth anniversary of Moosewala. Singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, who was popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, 2022. He was killed when he, along with his friend and cousin, was travelling in a jeep to Jawahar Ke village in Mansa. Six shooters waylaid Moosewala's SUV and sprayed it with bullets. After the killing, Brar claimed responsibility for the murder. In the documentary, Brar told BBC that Moosewala's relationship with Bishnoi went back several years and the singer used to send "good morning" and "good night" messages to the gangster. However, the relationship turned sour after Moosewala promoted a kabaddi tournament that was organised by Bishnoi's rivals. "In his arrogance, he made some mistakes that could not be forgiven," Brar said. In the documentary, Brar also spoke about the killing of Youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera, who was murdered in August 2021 in Mohali. "Everybody knew his . Police also knew it. Even some journalists who were investigating Vicky's case knew. "Sidhu was using his political power, his money and resources to help our rivals, those who killed our brother. We wanted to punish him for that. He should have been booked and sent to jail. But no one was hearing our plea and then we took it upon ourselves," Brar said. "We had no option but to kill him. He had to face the consequences of his actions. It was either him or us. As simple as that," the gangster said in the documentary. Asked why they did not go through the judicial system in India instead of taking law into their hands, Brar said, "Law and justice, there is no such thing. Only the powerful people can get justice, not ordinary people. I did what I had to do for my brother. I have no remorse whatsoever and I take pride in it." Asked why they did not go after the perpetrators of Middukhera's murder, he said, "It is not that we have reached a compromise or forgiven them. They have all apologised and begged for their lives. But we have not forgiven anyone and we will never forgive." Police had earlier said that Brar executed the plan to murder Moosewala to avenge the killing of Middukhera. Satinderjeet Singh alias Goldy Brar, a native of Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab, went to Canada on student visa in 2017. He is an active member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Last year, Brar was designated as a terrorist by the government under the anti-terror law for his involvement in smuggling of high-grade arms, ammunition and explosives through drones from across the border for carrying out killings in India. Brar has also been associated with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International. The BBC documentary focuses on Moosewala's early life, his rise to fame in the music world and the circumstances of his killing. It also features interviews of the singer's friends, a Punjab Police officer and a few journalists. On Moosewala's birth anniversary on Wednesday, his family released three of his tracks "Take Notes", "0008" and "Neal". While "Take Notes" has registered 8.2 million views so far, "0008" has 6.4 million views and 'Neal' has 6.3 million.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Documentary screening in haste, can jeopardise murder trial: Moose Wala's father
After British broadcaster BBC World Service released a two-part documentary, 'The Killing Call', on YouTube on the assassination of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala on Wednesday morning, his father, Balkaur Singh Sidhu, alleged that the screening in haste could jeopardise the ongoing criminal trial into the murder. 'The documentary builds a false narrative and maligns Moose Wala's image. It has been released online in haste for commercial gains and could jeopardise the ongoing trial of his murder,' Balkaur said after a function at Musa village in Mansa district to mark the birth anniversary of the singer, born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu. The documentary was originally scheduled for a public screening at Juhu, Mumbai, coinciding with Moose Wala's birthday. However, amid growing controversy and legal objections, the broadcaster shifted the release to YouTube. The first part of the documentary is on Moose Wala's early life, rise to fame, and controversies surrounding him. The second part delves into the circumstances surrounding his assassination on May 29, 2022, in Mansa district. The 28-year-old singer was driving his jeep without police security when attackers fired over 30 bullets at him. He was later discovered slumped in the driver's seat. Canada-based Goldy Brar, who has alleged ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the killing and has since been designated an 'individual terrorist' by the National Investigation Agency. The case remains under investigation, with no convictions yet, while Brar continues to evade arrest. New songs runaway hits Moose Wala's family released three new songs of the slain rapper — '0008', 'Neal', and 'Take Notes' — on his YouTube channel at 10am on Wednesday. With this, the total number of songs released after Moose Wala's death touched 11. Each of the tracks had more than 32 lakh views till 8 pm and these songs trended on the top three slots of YouTube. Balkaur Singh said: 'We have full faith that the court will do justice in our son's murder. Unfortunately, all those who claimed to be standing with our family were seen giving interviews to the foreign broadcaster.' The Mansa court listed Balkaur's petition for hearing on Thursday but refused to stay the screening. Balkaur has named the foreign broadcaster along with two individuals, Ishleen Kaur and Ankur Jain, as respondents in the suit. The investigative documentary interviewed Canada-based gangster and key conspirator in Moose Wala's murder, Goldy Brar. The documentary has interviews with two senior police officers of Punjab and Delhi, who worked on solving the murder and arrested several accused. Besides the singer's friends, his former manager and journalists were also interviewed to trace Moose Wala's journey from a village in Punjab to the 'hip-hop scene of eastern Canada'. They talked about people in his life, his association with gangsters and circumstances. 'It's a story that takes us from the turbulent history of Punjab to the contested politics of modern India, and from the shadowy world of organised crime to a chilling phone call with the fugitive gangster, who says he ordered the hit,' the BBC World Service says in the video's description. Old video clips of interviews with Moose Wala and his father also find space in the documentary.
