Local Congress leader shot dead in Moga; Canada-based gangster Arsh Dala claims responsibility in FB post

Hours after the incident, fugitive gangster Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, also a native of Dala village but believed to be hiding in Canada, took to Facebook and claimed responsibility for the killing. In a Facebook post purportedly posted from Arsh Dala’s account, he blamed Balli for ‘introducing him in the world of crime’ and for ‘harassing his mother’.

In the CCTV camera footage of the incident, a shooter is seen barging inside the house when Balli was standing in the porch. He opened fire and Balli collapsed. An elderly man appears and tries to hold Balli but he again collapses. He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to bullet injuries, said police.

The Facebook post from Arsh Dala’s account originally written in Punjabi can be loosely translated as: “I am responsible for the murder of Balli in Dala village because it was my own village’s politics which had made me tread this path. This man (Balli) was responsible for keeping my mother in CIA (police) custody for a week and he also got my friends arrested. He was hand in glove with police… and got my home vandalised. He destroyed my home just to gain his own afsar shaahi… My life’s aim was not to live my own life but to kill him. If we wished, we would have killed his child too but that child was nowhere at fault…. those who are sympathising with him, their homes are also not far for us…”

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in January this year had declared Dala a designated terrorist after it found his involvement in heinous crimes such as murder, extortion and targeted killings, besides terror activities.

Moga SSP J Elanchezhian who reached the spot said the investigation has been started. He said the Facebook post purportedly posted from Arsh Dala’s account was being verified. An FIR for murder was being registered at Mehna police station till the filing of this report.

Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa and Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring strongly condemned the incident.

“In a harrowing incident, the Congress president from Ajitwal block of district Moga, Baljinder Singh Balli (45) was shot dead at his residence today. I condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms. My heart goes out to the family of the victim,” Bajwa wrote on X.

“Ever since @AAPPunjab formed the government in Punjab, the law and order situation has collapsed completely. Gun crime in the state has been on the rise. CM @BhagwantMann, who also holds the home portfolio is directly responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. @AAPPunjab govt must swing to action and arrest the culprits. Otherwise, Punjab Congress will launch a strugge,” added Bajwa.