On Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann paid a visit to the home of deceased musician Sidhu Moose Wala in Mansa district, despite strong opposition from the residents.
Moose Wala’s parents were contacted by Mann, who expressed his sympathies for the singer-horrific politician’s murder on Sunday, just days after the state government revoked his security protection.
Protesters had barred AAP MLA Gurpreet Singh Banawali from accessing Moose Wala’s home earlier in the day. “Aam Aadmi Party Murdabad” and “Aam Aadmi Party ne mara tha (AAP killed him)” were among the chants they chanted.
To restore order, senior government officials and police officers arrived at the protest site. Moose Wala’s family is “cooperating,” according to Mansa District Commissioner Jaspreet Singh, who has agreed to meet with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claims the rallies are being staged by Congress workers led by former MLA Kulbir Singh Zira, rather than by people.
Harpal Singh Cheema and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Punjab politicians, visited with Moose Wala’s family at their hometown on Thursday to express their condolences over the singer’s death.
On May 29, unidentified assailants shot and killed Sidhu Moose Wala, 28, in Jawaharke village, Mansa district. The attack also injured his cousin and a friend, who were riding in the jeep with him.
To investigate the murder of Moose Wala, the Punjab Police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT). The incident was classified as an inter-gang feud by state police. The assassination has been claimed by Goldy Brar, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang headquartered in Canada.
On Tuesday, Moose Wala was cremated in Mansa, where he was born. A sea of mourners lined the streets to pay their last respects to the musician, who was accompanied by his family, who wept as they said their goodbyes.
