A massive multi-state manhunt has finally ended with the dramatic arrest of three Bambiha gang members. Police captured the suspects in a hotel near Howrah station in West Bengal on Monday. The trio stands accused of the brazen daylight assassination of kabaddi promoter Kanwar Digvijay Singh, widely known as "Rana Balachauria."
Chilling Selfie Ruse Used in Mohali Attack
The shocking murder occurred on December 15 during a private kabaddi tournament in Mohali. Witnesses describe a chilling scene. The two suspected shooters, Karan Pathak alias 'Karan Defaulter' and Tarandeep Singh, used a clever and casual ruse to approach their target.
They pretended to be fans wanting a selfie with the promoter. Once close, they opened fire at point-blank range. The attackers then fled the scene on a waiting motorcycle, leaving Balachauria dead among his supporters.
Month-Long Chase Across States
After the murder, the suspects embarked on a frantic escape. They successfully evaded capture across several Indian states. Their flight took them as far as Gangtok in Sikkim before police tracked them back to the Bengal capital region.
"We kept chasing them," revealed sources from the Bengal Special Task Force (STF). The fugitives eventually slipped into Kolkata and then tried to hide in Gangtok before returning to the Howrah transit hub, where police cornered them.
Coordinated Operation Nets Trio
The arrest resulted from a highly coordinated intelligence operation. Police forces from five states worked together with central agencies. The operation culminated at the hotel in Howrah.
Authorities apprehended the two alleged shooters, Karan Pathak and Tarandeep Singh. They also arrested a third individual, 21-year-old Akashdeep Singh. Investigators identify Akashdeep as a suspected informer and a close relative of Amar Khabe Rajputa. Rajputa is believed to be a handler operating from abroad and pulling the strings for the gang.
Punjab's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) led the operation with crucial assistance from the Kolkata Police Special Task Force and officers from Howrah's Golabari police station.
Extradited to Punjab for Interrogation
The suspects are currently in the process of being extradited to Punjab. Authorities will conduct further interrogation there. The AGTF confirmed the primary shooters are now in custody.
"Efforts are in progress to identify and apprehend the remaining associates," an AGTF official stated. The investigation remains active as police work to unravel the full network behind the crime.
Motive Points to Lucrative Kabaddi Circuit
Initially, the gang attempted to frame the murder on social media. They tried to link it to revenge for the 2022 killing of rapper Sidhu Moose Wala. However, Punjab Police have dismissed this claim as a mere smokescreen.
Instead, investigators point to a far more lucrative motive. They believe the hit was a violent play for "dominance and control" over the global kabaddi circuit. This sporting industry is estimated to be worth a staggering Rs 1,000 crore.
The Bambiha gang has deep roots in the sport of kabaddi. The gang's late founder, Davinder Singh Sidhu, was himself a popular kabaddi player. He later transitioned into organised crime. He earned the moniker 'Bambiha' in jail, named after his home village in Punjab's Moga district.
This arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that sent shockwaves through India's sporting community. It highlights the intense and sometimes violent power struggles within the lucrative world of professional kabaddi.
