Singer's killing: HC asks Punjab why security cut

Watering down or withdrawal of police protection to 400-plus at-risk individuals in Punjab was hotly debated following the murder of popular rapper and Congress politician Sidhu Moose Wala, with the Punjab & Haryana high court, on Monday, seeking to know from the AAP government in the state why names of those who had lost their security details were leaked. The HC asked the government to reply by June 2.

Chandigarh: The AAP government came under fire for a poster shared on the party's Twitter handle that mentioned Moose Wala and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh while announcing the security downgrade with the caption, "Another attack on VVIP culture in Punjab". According to critics and opposition parties, the move had made those individuals vulnerable to attack.

Moose Wala, 28, died in a shooting when he was out in his jeep with two other men near his native village of Jawaharke in Mansa district on Sunday evening. Eight of around 30 bullets fired by the gunmen hit the Punjabi rapper whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu.

Mann to ask for HC judge-led commission

Chandigarh: Acceding to a demand from Balkar Singh Sidhu, father of rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, the Punjab government said it will ask for a judicial commission led by an HC judge to investigate his murder. CM Bhagwant Mann also directed state DGP V K Bhawra to clarify his remarks that Sunday's shooting was the fallout of an inter-gang rivalry.