Kabaddi player Rana Balachauria was shot dead during a tournament in Mohali. The Rana Balachauria killing has shocked Punjab and triggered strong political reactions.
The killing of kabaddi player Rana Balachauria has sent shockwaves across Punjab and the sports community. The 30-year-old player was shot dead in the middle of a kabaddi tournament in Mohali, turning a sporting event into a scene of fear and chaos.
Rana Balachauria, whose real name was Kanwar Digvijay Singh, had arrived with his team to take part in a private kabaddi tournament at Sohana in Mohali. Police said unidentified gunmen opened fire on him soon after he reached the ground on Monday evening.
He was critically injured in the attack and rushed to Fortis Hospital in Mohali. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival. The hospital later said, “Mr Kanwar Digvijay Singh, a 30-year-old kabaddi player, was brought to the Fortis Hospital, Mohali, at 6:05 p.m. with gunshot injuries. Despite immediate clinical assessment, he was declared brought dead.”
Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans confirmed that the attackers were two to three in number. He said they fled from the spot on a motorcycle after the firing. When asked about any personal enmity or gang rivalry behind the murder, he stated, “The matter is under investigation.”
Eyewitnesses told the police that the attackers pretended to be fans. They reportedly stopped Rana Balachauria and asked for selfies before suddenly opening fire. Many people at the ground initially thought firecrackers were bursting.
One eyewitness recalled the terrifying moment and said, “We first thought firecrackers were being burst.” He added that the attackers also fired shots in the air to scare the crowd before escaping.
The tournament was being held at a packed ground, and popular Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh was expected to attend the evening matches to distribute prizes. The presence of families and spectators made the incident even more frightening.
The killing of Rana Balachauria has revived painful memories of earlier attacks on kabaddi players in Punjab. Three years ago, player Sandeep Nangal was shot dead during a tournament in Jalandhar. More recently, 25-year-old kabaddi player Teja Singh was killed in Jagraon in October this year.
The incident has also sparked a major political backlash. Opposition parties have slammed the Bhagwant Mann-led government, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order in the state.
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said on X, “Open firing at a kabaddi tournament in Mohali, claiming the life of player Rana Balachauria, is a chilling reminder of @AAPPunjab’s abject failure to maintain law and order. Bullets flying at public events are proof of governance collapse. Punjabis are being forced to live in fear.”
Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa wrote, “Gunshots at the Mohali Kabaddi Cup in Sohana are a damning verdict on @BhagwantMann’s total failure as CM and Home Minister.” He questioned how long such violence would continue without accountability.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also reacted strongly and said in Punjabi on X that criminals have become so fearless that they are firing shots in front of crowds during live matches. He blamed the state government for the rising crime.
Punjab BJP leader Ashwani Sharma called the incident heartbreaking and said kabaddi fields are no longer safe. He said, “The incident is even more heartbreaking because Rana had been married recently. A married life was mercilessly ended by gangster rule.”
As investigations continue, the killing of Rana Balachauria has raised serious questions about public safety, especially at sports events. For many in Punjab, the fear is growing that even playgrounds are no longer safe from violence.
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