Punjabi singer and Congress leader Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, 28, would insist on being known by his stage name, Sidhu Moose Wala, as a tribute to his land of birth. Such was his affinity for his native village of Moosa that he returned to his roots after getting fame and success as a popular rapper in Canada.
A day after his brutal murder while he was driving through the neighbouring Jawahar Ke village, barely 4km from his house, emotions ran high at Moosa in Mansa district on Monday as his fans, villagers and political leaders gathered at the village to mourn his death and pay their last respects.
The internationally acclaimed singer, who forayed into politics during the 2022 Punjab assembly elections and unsuccessfully fought from Mansa on the Congress ticket, was unmarried and the only son of his parents.
While his inconsolable mother, Charan Kaur, who is the village sarpanch, and his father, Balkaur Singh, an ex-serviceman and farmer, were struggling with the loss, Moose Wala’s supporters and villagers were also trying to come to terms with the shock.
Fighting back tears, a villager, Satvir Kaur, remembered Moose Wala as a sweet, courteous boy who greeted one and all. “It was not his time yet; he has left us too soon. I don’t know how his parents will cope with this. People responsible for this crime must be punished,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}Fighting back tears, a villager, Satvir Kaur, remembered Moose Wala as a sweet, courteous boy who greeted one and all. “It was not his time yet; he has left us too soon. I don’t know how his parents will cope with this. People responsible for this crime must be punished,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}Rupinder Singh, another local, said: “Moose Wala was a star but always met his fans humbly. I still can’t believe he is gone. Someone who is loved by millions should not go like this,” he said.
After graduating in electrical engineering from Ludhiana in 2016, Moose Wala moved to Brampton in Ontario, Canada. In 2018, he released his debut album PBX 1, which peaked at 66th on Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Following the album, he started releasing his songs independently and established his name as a Punjabi singer with chartbusters like “Jatt Da Muqabla”, “Dollar”, “So High” and “Bambiha Bole”. His last song, coincidently, was “Last Ride.”
Lost everything within moments: Father
Moose Wala was on the way to his maternal aunt’s house in Khara village, around 15km from his house, when he was attacked. He was accompanied by his cousin Gurpreet Singh and friend Gurwinder Singh, who too got injured.
The singer-politician, who was earlier protected by four armed personnel, was left with two armed guards after the Punjab government curtailed the security of 424 people on Saturday. According to people close to Moose Wala, he did not take his gunmen along as his aunt’s house was nearby and there was not enough space in his SUV.
Balkaur Singh, who took him and the two others to hospital after the attack on Sunday, said in his police complaint that his son would get threats to his life from gangsters for extortion. On Sunday, when he learnt that Moose Wala had left home without his security guards or his bulletproof vehicle, he went after him.
When Balkaur Singh reached Jawahar Ke village, he saw a Corolla car with four occupants tailing Moose Wala’s vehicle. After his son took a turn, a Bolero vehicle with four youths stopped in front of his Thar and started indiscriminate firing, stated the FIR.
“By the time, we reached the spot, the assailants had fled. I was in shock and it took me some time to get back to my senses. When we rushed him to hospital, doctors declared him dead. I lost everything within moments,” said the father.
Gurwinder, who also suffered bullet injuries, said: “I fired twice from my pistol, but the assailants surrounded the car from three sides and started firing, mainly at Moose Wala. I ducked to save myself.” According to police, the assailants had come in three vehicles — two which were later found abandoned — and around 30 rounds were fired from at least three weapons.
Expressing anger over the downgrading of Moose Wala’s security cover, youngsters gathered at Moosa village held the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government responsible for the murder. “Moose Wala was killed in broad daylight after police downgraded his security. Why was his security curtailed when he was under threat?” asked Sukhman Singh, a fan.
Balwinder Singh, a local, said: “What is the point of deploying so many police personnel here today? He was killed after the state government publicised the withdrawal of his security. He was proud of our village, but due to the negligent attitude of the police, he became a victim of gangsters. Bhagwant Mann must ensure justice.”