Indian police are investigating the murder of a popular Punjabi rapper the day after he was fatally shot.
Shubhdip Singh Sidhu, better known by his stage name Sidhu Mus Wala, was killed on Sunday night while driving in Mansa, a Punjab state in northern India. Moose Vala, 28, was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Punjab Senior Police Officer VK Bhawra said the initial investigation revealed the killing was the result of rivalry between gangs.
The day before the attack, the Punjabi government pulled cover for more than 400 people, including Moose Walla, in an attempt to suppress VIP culture, local media reported.
Moose Walawho mixes hip-hop, rap and folk music, starting as a songwriter before hitting a hit song in 2017 to catapult his singing career, making him well known among the Indian and Punjabi diaspora in countries including the UK and Canada.
Most of his singles have an English title, although the songs are sung mainly in Punjabi. His sleek music videos often focused on macho culture. His debut album in 2018 was included in the Canadian album chart Billboard.
Moose Wala was a controversial figure, in part because of his lyrical style. In 2020, police accused him under the Indian Weapons Act of allegedly promoting gun culture in one of his songs.
His latest track, The Last Ride, was released this month.
The rapper joined the Indian Congress Party last year and failed to run in the state election.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said he was shocked and saddened by the killing, adding that “no culprit will be spared”.
Rahul Gandhi, a senior congressional leader, tweeted his condolences. “Deeply shocked and saddened by the assassination of a promising congressional leader and talented artist,” he wrote.
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