Mohali, Punjab — The cheers of a kabaddi tournament were brutally silenced on Monday when celebrated player and promoter, Rana Balachauria, was fatally gunned down in a horrifying public attack. The tragedy unfolded during the Sohana Kabaddi Cup, turning a moment of sporting joy into a scene of chaotic terror.
Rana Balachauria, just 30 years old and a newlywed of only ten days, was a familiar and beloved face in the kabaddi community. The cruelty of his death is compounded by the calculated method used by his attackers.
As the tournament was underway, bike-borne assailants approached Rana, playing the part of admiring fans. They requested a selfie—a simple, everyday act of modern fandom. But as Rana paused for the photograph, they unleashed a barrage of bullets at point-blank range, striking his face and upper body.
Rana was rushed to Fortis Hospital but succumbed to his multiple, grievous injuries. The attack was swift, calculated, and carried out in front of hundreds of stunned spectators.
The motive behind the public execution was chillingly revealed shortly after. The notorious Bambiha gang swiftly claimed responsibility on social media, framing the murder as an act of revenge for the killing of Punjabi music sensation, Sidhu Moose Wala.
Police have confirmed the gang’s claim, which alleged that Rana Balachauria had provided shelter to those involved in Moose Wala’s assassination. The gang, rivals of the Lawrence Bishnoi group linked to the singer’s murder, even named individuals—”Makkhan Amritsar and Defaulter Karne”—in their post, asserting that Rana paid the ultimate price for his alleged association.
An Ongoing Investigation
The incident has triggered a high-priority police investigation, with authorities led by SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans confirming the sequence of events: the deceptive request for a selfie leading directly to the shooting.
Investigators are also looking into another potential lead: a prominent Punjabi singer was scheduled to arrive at the tournament venue just before the firing. Police are probing whether this planned arrival had any link to the attack, suggesting the possible scope of the conspiracy may extend beyond the kabaddi ground.
The death of Rana Balachauria is not just a police case; it’s a profound tragedy that has robbed a young man of his future, left a new bride a widow, and cast a dark shadow over the spirit of sport in Punjab.
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