Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has issued a strong warning to criminal gangs following the daylight murder of kabaddi player and promoter Rana Balachauria in Mohali, making it clear that the state will not tolerate any challenge to law and order. Reacting sharply to the incident, the Chief Minister said that the belief of criminals that they can fire bullets and escape without consequences is their biggest mistake, and assured that every person involved in such crimes will be tracked and punished, regardless of where they are hiding.
Addressing the media, Bhagwant Mann underlined that the Punjab government is fully committed to maintaining public safety and that incidents of targeted killings and fear-mongering will be dealt with firmly. He stressed that no individual or gang will be allowed to disturb peace in the state, adding that the police have been given complete freedom to act decisively against organised crime networks.
According to Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Hans, the attack on Rana Balachauria was carried out in a calculated manner during a kabaddi tournament. The assailants approached the players pretending to be fans and asked for selfies. As soon as Rana Balachauria paused, the attackers opened fire from extremely close range. He was rushed in a critical condition to Fortis Hospital in Mohali, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Investigators have confirmed that the shots were fired from a very short distance, indicating a clearly planned execution.
Providing details of the investigation, senior police officials said that three accused have been identified in connection with the murder. One of them is a gangster operating from abroad, reportedly based in Portugal, while the other two accused, identified as Aditya and Karan, are residents of Amritsar. The police are now probing the international links of the crime and examining how instructions and logistics were coordinated across borders.
Chief Minister Mann also expressed serious concern over recent threats received by schools in different parts of Punjab. He said that in several cases, threatening phone calls were made with the intention of creating panic. The police are actively tracing the origin of these calls to identify the countries they are coming from and the individuals behind them. He reassured parents and educational institutions that security is being strengthened and there is no need for fear.
On the issue of gangster culture, Bhagwant Mann reiterated his government’s stand against songs and content that glorify weapons, violence and criminal lifestyles. He said action has been taken in the past against such content and will continue in the future, remarking that music is meant to bring peace and comfort, not promote bloodshed and fear.
Responding to political criticism, the Chief Minister accused previous governments, including the Akali Dal and the Congress, of allowing gangster networks to grow during their tenures. He said these gangs flourished due to weak policies in the past and are now fighting for dominance, with innocent people paying the price. Mann asserted that his government is determined to break this cycle and restore complete public confidence in the rule of law in Punjab.
