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Tamil Nadu: Tamil YouTuber Karthik Gopinath arrested for collecting funds for temple, BJP criticizes the move

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Tamil Nadu: Tamil YouTuber Karthik Gopinath arrested for collecting funds for temple, BJP criticizes the move

According to reports, YouTuber and social media influencer Karthik Gopinath has been arrested by Tamil Nadu police on Monday morning. Karthik is a very popular Tamil YouTuber who manages the Ilaya Bharatham channel. He identifies himself as a nationalist and is well-known for his videos criticising the DMK government in Tamil Nadu.

Karthik Gopinath was reportedly detained for gathering funds for temples in Siruvachur, Perambalur district. According to sources, Karthik Gopinath raised funds for the renovation of several desecrated temples in Siruvachur using the fund-raising app Milaap. Hooligans recently defaced several idols of the temple administered by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE).

However, there has been some debate over the mobilization of funds for a temple under the control of HR&CE management by the YouTuber. Karthik was detained on the morning of May 30 after a police complaint was filed.

K. Annamalai, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu, has criticized the arrest, claiming that the DMK administration in Tamil Nadu is using coercive practices to suppress opponents.

Annamalai wrote, “…The arrest of Shri. @karthikgnath on completely trumped-up charges is condemnable and shows the level to which this Govt will go to silence an uncomfortable voice.”

This is not the first time Tamil Nadu police have targeted people critical of the ruling DMK. Another YouTuber Maridhas was previously arrested by Tamil Nadu cops for making a video regarding Tablighi Jamaat. Maridhas was arrested after a YouTube video he posted linked Tablighi Jamaat members to the spread of coronavirus. An FIR was also lodged against him in June 2020 after he referred to late DMK supremo M Karunanidhi in a video as the “father of corruption.”

Paris: Suspected climate change activist dresses up as elderly woman in a wheelchair to vandalise the Mona Lisa, throws cake

OpIndia Staff
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Paris: Suspected climate change activist dresses up as elderly woman in a wheelchair to vandalise the Mona Lisa, throws cake

At the Louvre Museum in the French capital of Paris, a man dressed as an elderly woman tried to vandalise the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous and expensive paintings in the world. Reportedly, the person entered the museum dressed as an elderly woman in a wheelchair and jumped out of it to vandalise the masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci.

The person who is a suspected Climate Change activist stunned everyone when he jumped out of his wheelchair and smeared the cake on the painting. However, his attempts to destroy the painting were thwarted when the cake touched the protective glass screen leaving the painting untouched. Thus, the masterpiece was saved.

Witnesses and fellow visitors to the Louvre were quick to share the cake-smeared condition of the world-famous artwork. A Twitter user, who shared the video from Louvre, wrote, “Maybe this is just n*ts to me, but a man dressed as an old lady jumped out of a wheelchair and attempted to smash the bulletproof glass of the Mona Lisa.” 

In the video, it can be seen that the man continued to spread the cake over the glass even after the police tackled him. The security guards rushed to the chamber and ejected him out of the room. After the man was caught, he threw his wig and reportedly said in French, “Think of the earth, artists think of the earth. All artists think of the earth. That’s why I did it. Think of the earth.”

This attempt of vandalisation of the Mona Lisa, which is one of the best-kept paintings in the world will go down in history as one of the bizarre ways employed to create awareness around Climate Change. In 1956, the lower part of the painting was severely damaged when a vandal doused the painting with sulphuric acid. The 16th-century iconic painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Louvre Museum draws crowds of millions from all over the world every year.

Nepal plane crash: Nepal Army locates Tara Air flight wreckage, 14 bodies recovered so far, all 22 onboard feared dead

OpIndia Staff
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Nepal plane crash: Nepal Army locates Tara Air flight wreckage, 14 bodies recovered so far, all 22 onboard feared dead

The Nepal Army on Monday has recovered 14 bodies from the wreckage of the Tara Air plane that crashed into a mountainside in Nepal with 22 people on board, including four Indians. The flight had gone missing soon after it took off from Pokhra at around 10.00 am on Sunday. Due to bad weather in the Mustang district, all the helicopters deployed for the search of the crashed aircraft were called off on Sunday, only to resume on Monday, May 30.

“Fourteen bodies have been recovered so far, search continues for the remaining. The weather is very bad but we were able to take a team to the crash site. No other flight has been possible,” Nepal Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Deo Chandra Lal Karn told the media.

According to reports, the wreckage of the ill-fated Tara Air flight that went missing on Sunday was located in Sanosware, Thasang-2 in the Mustang district. The turboprop Twin Otter 9N-AET plane had four Indian nationals, two Germans and 13 Nepali passengers besides a three-member Nepali crew. The Indian family who died in the plane crash have been identified as Ashok Tripathi (54) his wife, Vaibhavi Bandekar-Tripathi (51) son Dhanush Tripathi (22) and daughter Ritika Tripathi (18). The family was on vacation in Nepal. They’d changed their flight from Pokhara, Nepal.

The aircraft crew members included Captain Prabhakar Ghimirele, flight operator Kismi Thapa and crew members, Arka and Utsav Pokharelle.

Other passengers on board the flight were Indra Bahadur Gole, Purushottam Gole, Rajankumar Gole, Mike Greet Graf, Basant Lama, Ganesh Narayan Shrestha, Raveena Shrestha, Rashmi Shrestha, Rozina Shrestha, Prakash Sunuwar, Makar Bahadur Tamal, Rammaya Tamal, Sukumaya Tamal, Tulsadevi Tamal and Uwe Wilner.

The Canadian-built plane was flying from the city of Pokhara to Jomsom, a popular tourist town in central Nepal.

A team led by Nepal police inspector Raj Kumar Tamang that reached the crash site by air said, “Some of the bodies of the passengers are beyond recognition. Police gathering the remains”. According to reports, the bodies would be flown down to Kathmandu for post mortem.

The Nepal Army has “physically located” the crash site of the plane that went missing with 22 onboard, including four Indians, on Sunday. The crash site has been located in Sanosware, Thasang-2 in Mustang district, Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Narayan Silwal tweeted today along with the photo of the wreckage with the plane’s tail number clearly visible.

According to news agency ANI, a team of 15 Nepali Army soldiers has been dropped near the crash site to retrieve the bodies. The crash site lies at an elevation of about 14,500 feet while the team has been dropped at 11,000 meters in height.

ANI also quoted Phadindra Mani Pokhrel, Spokesperson of the Home Ministry of the government of Nepal as saying, “We suspected all the passengers on board the aircraft have lost their lives. Our preliminary assessment shows that no one could have survived the plane crash, but the official statement is due.”

The aircraft with 22 people including four Indians on board went missing on Sunday. The plane had reportedly lost contact minutes after it took off from Pokhara in Nepal around 10 am on Sunday. The mishap happened due to bad weather, sources said.

Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma had informed ANI over the phone, “The aircraft was seen over the sky of Jomsom in Mustang and then had diverted to Mt. Dhaulagiri after which it hadn’t come into contact.”

For the search for missing aircraft, the Nepal Home Ministry had dispatched two private helicopters from Mustang and Pokhara. The Himalayan Times had reported Patrol and search units from security forces, and groups of locals were on-foot in the Dhaulagiri region, searching for the wreckage of the flight that went missing.

Tara Air is the newest and largest airline service provider in Nepal, according to the airline website. It started business in 2009. In 13 years, Tara Air has witnessed three fatal crashes.

Nepal, which has eight of the world’s fourteen highest peaks, including Mt Everest, has a history of air disasters. A plane from the same carrier travelling the same route crashed shortly after takeoff in 2016, killing all 23 people on board. A US-Bangla Air flight had crashed at Tribhuvan International Airport in March 2018, killing all 51 passengers on board. In September 2012, a Sita Air plane crashed into the Tribhuvan International Airport while attempting an emergency landing, killing 19 people. On May 14, 2012, a plane carrying 15 persons from Pokhara to Jomsom crashed near Jomsom airport.

Delhi AAP leader obfuscates, tries to put blame on Sidhu Moosewala’s murder on his ‘friends’

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi AAP leader obfuscates, tries to put blame on Sidhu Moosewala’s murder on his ‘friends’

Delhi AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj has tried to pass the blame on Sidhu Moosewala’s security over his friends after the single-turned Congress politician met a tragic death after being shot by assailants on Sunday. On May 29, controversial singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead after multiple rounds were fired at his vehicle in district Mansa, Punjab. 

The shocking development came a day later when the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government had withdrawn police security to Moosewala and others and had published the list of those VIPs whose security was withdrawn. While leaders from various parties including Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP and the Congress have blamed Moosewala’s gruesome murder on the security lapse by the government, an AAP MLA from Delhi has moved to a different tangent.

While speaking to news agency ANI, AAP MLA from Delhi Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the Punjab Police will probe upon whose advice Moosewala left without security. He said, “He (Sidhu Moosewala) had two security guards from Punjab police but was travelling in his car without them when he was murdered. We’ll see if his friends are involved in a murder case or not because they were the only ones aware of him moving without security. Police will investigate the case from every angle. But this needs to be thought upon as on whose advice he left without security.”

Bharadwaj in his statement can be seen trying to blame Moosewala’s ‘friends’ by claiming that only they were aware of him travelling without security. It should be noted, that Saurabh Bharadwaj’s attempt to involve the role of Sidhu Moosewala’s supposed friends in the case falls flat when it was the Punjab Government itself that had published a list of VIPs whose security would be curtailed as a populist measure.

Screengrab of a tweet by @AamAadmiParty on May 28, 2022

Moreover, Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder, alleging Moosewala was involved in the murder of one of their gang members. In his Facebook post, he also threatened that murder of Moosewala was not the end and that others involved in the Vicky Maddu Khera murder case will face a similar fate.  

Saurabh Bharadwaj’s attempt to pin the blame on Sidhu Moosewala’s friends came hours after the murder took place. This has left many wondering whether AAP is trying to deviate from the responsibility of ailing law and order situation in Punjab by involving a different angle to the case.

AIADMK accuses the Tamil Nadu govt of ‘siphoning’ funds in name of the Ukraine students rescue operation, benefitting the son-in-law of DMK leader

OpIndia Staff
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AIADMK accuses the Tamil Nadu govt of ‘siphoning’ funds in name of the Ukraine students rescue operation, benefitting the son-in-law of DMK leader

On Sunday (May 29), the AIADMK accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of misappropriating funds, which were set aside for supposedly rescuing Tamil Nadu students from war-torn Ukraine.

AIADMK leader Apsara Reddy posted the RTI reply, received by Kathir News journalist Yuvaraj Ramalingam, in response to a query filed by him. The journalist had sought details about the budget allocation and expenditure incurred by the Tamil Nadu government for ‘rescue operation’ of students from Ukraine.

It has come to light that the DMK-led government had spent ₹3.25 crores in arranging food, accommodation, and transport facilities for students from Tamil Nadu, who were stuck in Ukraine following Russia’s military operation.

Apsara Reddy pointed out that one of the agencies, hired by the Tamil Nadu government, for the operation included a firm by the name of Serendip Sourcing Private Limited.

As per details available from the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, one of the directors of the company happens to be Gokul Kruba Shanker. Even the email ID associated with the firm goes as [email protected].

The company is involved in manufacturing sweaters for European countries. Coincidentally, Gokul Kruba Shanker is the son-in-law of former DMK Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy.

AIADMK leader Apsara R has hit out at its rival DMK party for financially benefitting its own partymen at the time of crisis.

“DMK put up a show of saving students in Ukraine, it was with an intent to siphon funds into their own partymen’s businesses? Documents are self-explanatory. The email of the person also evident. Narendra Modi ji did amazing work. DMK’s is all pocket-filling work,” she had tweeted.

DMK used Ukraine Crisis to further the North-South divide

In March this year, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had demanded that students from Tamil Nadu should be given priority over students from other states in evacuating.

Later, DMK spokesperson A Saravanan claimed that the North Indian students were being given priority over others by the Indian government. He also claimed that the Indian embassy officials in Ukraine are only speaking Hindi, giving preference to North Indian students.

However, the spokesperson did not provide any evidence to back his claim.

JNU student booked over allegations of sexual assault on campus

OpIndia Staff
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JNU student booked over allegations of sexual assault on campus

The Delhi Police has sprung into action following the incident of sexual molestation of a student at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). A case has been filed against the accused at the Vasant Kunj North police station in Delhi based on the victim’s allegation. The suspect has been charged under sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code.

In a tweet, the Delhi Police said, “A case has been registered U/S 354A/509 IPC at PS Vasant Kunj North following a complaint of molestation from a JNU 3rd yr student. Accused, who is her known college mate has joined the investigation. Further probe is on.”

Prasanna Raj, a Master’s student at the Centre for Political Studies (CPS), has been named as the accused. The purported incident of the assault occurred on the terrace of the Chandrabagha hostel at JNU.

According to RSS student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), not only did the accused attempt to physically sexually harass the victim, but he also threatened the victim if she spoke out in public. The top ‘comrades’ have been feverishly trying to cover up this heinous crime. The statement added n that the accused, Prasanna Raj, was spotted walking freely around the JNU campus, fearless of the law, while other AISA members were engaging in blaming the victim.

The ABVP alleged that the victim sought assistance from Aishe Ghosh regarding the incident, but Ghosh wantonly misled the survivor by directing her to the ‘non-existent’ Gender Sensitisation Committee against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) and prohibited her from filing a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee.

The ABVP pointed out that several activists linked with the Leftist group had previously been involved in sexual assault. It was alleged that Anmol Ratan, an AISA office bearer, raped a student in his room for two days. According to the ABVP, so many incidents of sexual assault against AISA members have come to light that it would be no exaggeration to alter the name of AISA to ‘All India Sexual Assaulters.’

Sidhu Moosewala’s mother blames Punjab’s AAP government for her son’s death, singer’s security was removed just a day prior to attack

OpIndia Staff
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Sidhu Moosewala’s mother blames Punjab’s AAP government for her son’s death, singer’s security was removed just a day prior to attack

On May 29, singer/rapper and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead in district Mansa, Punjab. After the incident, he was rushed to the hospital, and his mother accompanied him and two others who were injured. Before he was declared dead, she lashed out at the media seeking updates about Moosewala and asked them to leave her alone.

Distraught by the shooting incident, she blamed Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Punjab for the attack. She said, “You removed my son’s security, and he was attacked today. They were saying there is no need for security. Now go and see how my son was shot. Shoot me as well. Such a useless government this is.”

When the video was recorded, it was unclear if Moosewala was alive or had succumbed to bullet injuries. Notably, his security was removed by the AAP government along with 423 other prominent personalities in Punjab.

Murder of Sidhu Moosewala

On May 29, controversial singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead. Multiple rounds were fired at his vehicle in district Mansa, Punjab. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead. Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder, alleging Moosewala was involved in the murder of one of their gang member, but Police did not take any action against him.

AAP has flaunted the removal of security of prominent personalities, including Jathedars, Dera Heads and others, on its social media handle. Notably, only Moosewala was named in the said post.

‘Will trample 80 crore Hindus under my feet’: UP police arrest student union president Abdur Rahman for inciting Muslims to harm BJP’s Nupur Sharma

OpIndia Staff
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‘Will trample 80 crore Hindus under my feet’: UP police arrest student union president Abdur Rahman for inciting Muslims to harm BJP’s Nupur Sharma

On Sunday (May 29), the police arrested the President of the Shibli College Student Union for inciting violence against BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and the Hindu community over allegations of blasphemy.

The accused, identified as Abdur Rahman, had delivered the contentious speech outside his college gate on Saturday (May 28) night.

In a video clip that has now gone viral on social media, Rahman was heard saying, “She (Nupur Sharma) has committed blasphemy and insulted our Prophet. The situation of Muslims is such that their hands are chopped if the Holy number of ‘786’ is engraved on it or if they post a picture of lynching.”

“But when the honour of our Prophet is compromised, no Muslim comes forward (to avenge it). Why? Because we have become scared, complacent and cowards,” he incited a Muslim gathering.

“This is why I appeal to everyone present here to stand up for issues pertaining to our Faith and its last Messenger”, he continued. Amidst chants of Naara-e-Takbeer and Allahu Akbar, Abdur Rahman warned that he is willing to trample 80 crore people (referring to the Hindu community) under his feet.

The crowd, whom the President of Shibli College was addressing, was heard vying for the blood of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. “Gustaak-e-Rasool ki ek hi saza, sarr tann see juda (The only punishment for mocking Prophet Muhammad is beheading)”, a man announced.

After the controversial video went viral on social media, the Azamgarh cyber cell took cognisance of the matter and initiated a probe. According to Azamgarh SP Anurah Arya, Rahman was apprehended and brought in for questioning.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered and the accused was booked for deliberately outraging religious feelings under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 295A.

The Background of the Controversy

BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma has been at the receiving end of a torrent of hate and death threats since appearing on a news debate on Times Now channel on Friday (May 27). During a debate on the disputed Gyanvapi structure, Sharma argued that people can mock Islamic beliefs in response to objectionable remarks against Hinduism.

Following the debate, an alleged fact-checker from Alt News, Mohammed Zubair, shared a clip of the debate out of context, dog-whistling to his 100s of thousands of followers to attack her. Soon, the rape and death threats started to flow targeting not just Nupur Sharma, but her family members as well.

Several others, like journalist Rana Ayyub also joined Zubair later and invoked more hatred against Sharma by accusing her of ‘blasphemy’ leading to a further escalation in the threats.

Pawan Khera and Nagma whine after Congress snubs them for the RS seat in favour of Imran Pratapgarhi, Randeep Surjewala

OpIndia Staff
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Pawan Khera and Nagma whine after Congress snubs them for the RS seat in favour of Imran Pratapgarhi, Randeep Surjewala

ON May 29, Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Nagma took to Twitter to voice their grievances on social media platforms after they were overlooked for the Rajya Sabha seat in favour of Imran Pratapgarhi and Randeep Surjewala amongst others. The reaction came after Congress Party released a list of its ten candidates from seven states for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha.

In a cryptic tweet, Pawan Khera wrote in Hindi, “My penance must have lacked somewhere”.

Source: Twitter

Nagma, on the other hand, was blunt in expressing her dismay. She said, “My 18 years’ worth of penance also fell short in front of Imran Bhai.”

Source: Twitter

In a follow-up tweet, she alleged then-Congress President Sonia Gandhi had personally committed her Rajya Sabha seat in 2003-2004. She said, “Sonia Ji, our Congress president, had personally committed to accommodating me in RS in 2003/04 when I joined Congress party on her behest we weren’t in power then. Since then, it’s been 18 years since they didn’t find an opportunity. Mr Imran is accommodated in RS from Maharashtra. I ask, am I less deserving?”

Source: Twitter

In place of Khera, who was one of the contenders for the seat from Rajasthan, Congress chose Randeep Singh Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Pramod Tiwari. Surjewala, who contested 2019 Haryana state assembly elections, lost his Kathial seat to BJP candidate. Prior to that, he faced an embarrassing defeat in 2019 bypolls after losing the Jind seat. Subsequently Congress workers created ruckus and blamed the EVMs. Now, Surjewala, who has not been able to win any recent elections has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by Congress.

Who is Imran Pratapgarhi?

Congress leader Mohammad Imran Khan aka Imran Pratapgarhi is the National Chairman of the Minority Cell of Congress. Notably, when he was given the post of National Chairman of the Minority Cell, it had reportedly generated unease in the party, with many senior leaders expressing concern. Most were of the opinion that Patrapgarhi’s popularity should rather have been used in campaigning and that an experienced hand was required to head the organisation.

Pratapgarhi is best known for his hate-filled Shayari that he often recites during campaigning for the Congress Party. In 2019 he was seen exhorting Muslims to kill at least 4-6 people to avenge the death of their people. He incited his Muslim followers, saying that “It is not acceptable to die in a cowardly manner. To avenge lynching, kill at least 4 to 6 people before you die.”

In another video, he is seen encouraging young children to chant, “Jo Hitler ki chaal chalega, woh Hitler ki maut marega”, one of the ‘Azadi’ slogans, which had become a regular feature during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Pratapgarhi had joined the Congress in 2019 and unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary elections from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh. He had lost the seat to ST Hasan of the Samajwadi Party. He reportedly became a Priyanka Gandhi Vadra favourite once she started paying attention to Uttar Pradesh, Pratapgarhi’s home state.

CCTV shows two cars tailing Sidhu Moosewala’s jeep moments before he was shot, additional security deployed at the singer’s house

OpIndia Staff
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CCTV shows two cars tailing Sidhu Moosewala’s jeep moments before he was shot, additional security deployed at the singer’s house

On May 29, new CCTV footage revealed that two cars were tailing Punjabi rapper/singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala’s vehicle moments before he was shot dead in district Mansa. In the video, 23-seconds after Moosewala’s vehicle made a turn, two white vehicles, one SUV and one Sedan were seen.

Pradeep Kumar Yadav, IGP Faridkot Range, said in a statement, “The attackers have left their car. Teams are after them. We are hopeful that they will be arrested soon. SIT has been constituted to arrest the culprits. We’ve got some important leads.”

DGP VK Bhawra said, “Prima Facie it seems an inter-gang rivalry case. One of his managers, Shagan Preet, was named in the Vicky Maddu Khera murder case. Shagan has fled to Australia. In reaction to that murder case, this incident has happened. Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken responsibility for the murder.”

He added, “After leaving his home when Sidhu Moose Wala was driving his car along with two others in Mansa district, two cars came from front and firing took place. He was injured and was taken to hospital where he was brought dead.”

DGP Bhawra added that Moosewala had two commandos assigned by Punjab Police and a personal bulletproof car that he did not take along with him.

He added, “On the orders of the CM, IG range has been directed to form an SIT. Three weapons were used. SSP Mansa and SSP Bathinda deployed there. ADG law & order has mobilised additional forces.”

Additional security has been deployed at Moosewala’s house. Reports have revealed that AN 94 assault rifle was used in the murder.

AAP had revealed Moosewala’s security was removed

On May 28, in a social media post, Aam Aadmi Party boasted about removing the security of 424 prominent personalities in the state. Interestingly, in the post, only Moosewala was named. The post read, “A big action on VIP culture in Punjab. Security of 424 people including Akal Takht Jathedar, Dera Heads, ADGP, Singer Moosewala reduced.” Just a day after the announcement, Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead.

Source: Twitter

Murder of Sidhu Moosewala

On May 29, controversial singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead. Multiple rounds were fired at his vehicle in district Mansa, Punjab. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead. Goldy Brar of Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder, alleging Moosewala was involved in the murder of one of their gang member, but Police did not take any action against him. They also threatened that murder of Moosewala was not the end and that others involved in the Vicky Maddu Khera murder case will face a similar fate.  

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