Indian police are investigating the murder of a popular Punjabi rapper a day after he was shot dead.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, better known by his stage name Sidhu Moose Wala, died on Sunday evening while driving his car in Mansa, a district of Punjab state in northern India. Moose Wala, 28, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Punjab State Police Chief VK Bhawra said the initial investigation had revealed that the killing was the result of a gang rivalry.
A day before the attack, the Punjabi government had withdrawn security coverage for more than 400 people, including Moose Wala, in an attempt to crack down on VIP culture, local media said.
Moose Walaw, who combined hip-hop, rap and folk music, began as a songwriter before a hit song in 2017 catapulted his singing career, making him well known among the Indian and Punjabi diaspora in countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada.
Most of his singles have an English title, although the songs were mostly sung in Punjabi. His brilliant music videos often focused on sexist culture. Her debut album in 2018 reached the Canadian Billboard album chart.
Moose Wala was a controversial figure, in part because of his lyrical style. In 2020, the police charged him under the Weapons Act of India for allegedly promoting the culture of weapons in one of his songs.
His latest track, The Last Ride, premiered this month.
The rapper joined the Indian Congress party last year and ran unsuccessfully in the state assembly elections.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said he was shocked and saddened by the assassination, adding that “no culprit will be spared.”
Rahul Gandhi, a senior congressional leader, tweeted his condolences. “Deeply shocked and saddened by the assassination of the promising congressional leader and talented artist,” he wrote.