The Barnala police have arrested Saudagar Singh, father of Shaganpreet Singh, the former manager of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, in connection with the firing at Punjabi singer-actor Gulab Sidhu’s residence in Pharwahi village.
Saudagar Singh was arrested from Khanna in Ludhiana district. According to Barnala SSP Mohammad Sarfaraz Alam, his role and that of his son Shaganpreet came to light during the investigation into the firing case.
As per reports the SSP told that Saudagar Singh was arrested on Thursday in connection with the firing at Gulab Sidhu’s residence. Police have not shared further details of the investigation as they are still trying to arrest some more persons allegedly linked to the case.
Saudagar Singh is a resident of Chari village in Fatehgarh Sahib district. He was produced before a court in Khanna in connection with another case registered there before his arrest in the Barnala firing case.
The arrest comes days after Barnala police claimed to have arrested nine persons in connection with the firing. The arrested persons included two alleged shooters, with police identifying them as youngsters from Sangrur district.
The firing took place around 1.30 am on the intervening night of September 12 and 13. According to police, three masked youths riding a motorcycle reached Gulab Sidhu’s residence in Pharwahi village. Two of them allegedly opened fire at the main gate.
At least six rounds were fired during the incident. No person was injured, but bullets hit the main gate, a tractor parked in the porch and the outer wall of the kitchen.
Police recovered six empty .30-bore shells from the spot.
Following the incident, two purported audio clips surfaced in which gangster Balwinder Singh alias Doni allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack. The police have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the firing and the involvement of those allegedly linked to it.
The Barnala SSP also said that family members of Shaganpreet Singh had previously been arrested by Khanna police in some cases.
Shaganpreet Singh is wanted by the Mohali police in connection with the 2021 murder of Youth Akali Dal leader Vikramjit Singh alias Vicky Middukhera. He is believed to be in Australia.
The Barnala police said the investigation into the firing case is still underway and that efforts are being made to arrest other persons allegedly involved.