Mohali: The killing of Kabaddi promoter Rana Balachoria at a sporting event in Punjab has taken a chilling turn, with a criminal gang publicly claiming responsibility and linking the murder to the 2022 assassination of singer Sidhu Moosewala.
The shooting took place during a Kabaddi cup event held in Sector-82 of Sohana village, organised by the local Gurdwara Management Committee along with the Vaidwan Sports Club. According to police, three young men entered the venue posing as admirers. They approached Balachoria, requested a selfie and, moments later, opened fire at close range.
Witnesses said four to five bullets were fired, striking Balachoria in the head and face. The attackers escaped immediately, fleeing on motorcycles and a Bolero vehicle while firing shots in the air to create panic. The injured promoter was rushed to Fortis Hospital in Phase-8, where doctors declared him dead during treatment. Balachoria had been married less than two weeks ago.
Hours after the incident, a social media post surfaced in which Sagar Norit, allegedly linked to the Ghanshyampuria gang, took responsibility for the attack. The post described the killing as an act of vengeance, claiming Balachoria was connected to rival gangster networks and had a role in events surrounding Sidhu Moosewala’s murder. The gang stated the act was carried out to “avenge” Moosewala.
The murder has once again drawn attention to the growing nexus between organised crime and Kabaddi tournaments in Punjab. Over the past several years, multiple players and event organisers have been targeted in similar attacks, often with gangs later claiming responsibility.
In 2022, international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambian was shot dead during a tournament in Jalandhar. This was followed by the killing of Tejpal Singh in Jagraon in October 2025 and the murder of Gurwinder Singh in Ludhiana in November the same year. Balachoria’s death marks yet another fatal incident as 2025 comes to an end.
Investigators are now probing allegations that illegal betting linked to Kabaddi events is being funded and controlled by gangsters operating from abroad. Police sources say they are examining financial trails to determine whether overseas crime figures are investing money into local tournaments to exert influence.
Previous investigations have pointed to the involvement of notorious gang leaders, including Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi, in Kabaddi-related activities in Punjab and Canada. Authorities believe these connections may also be tied to the chain of events that ultimately led to Sidhu Moosewala’s killing.
Police have stepped up security at sporting events and are conducting raids as part of the ongoing investigation, while urging organisers to cooperate fully to prevent criminal elements from exploiting sports platforms.
