Punjab’s deadly decade of gang wars, revenge and politics

Rocky, who later contested the 2012 assembly election unsuccessfully from Fazilka, was once close to notorious gangsters like Jaipal Bhullar, Shera Khuban, and Vicky Gounder. But like many friendships in Punjab’s criminal landscape, these, too, turned into bitter rivalries.

The spiral of retribution continued. On July 1, 2012, gangster Amandeep Singh Happy Deora of Ferozepur was allegedly gunned down by Shera Khuban. Deora had known ties with Akali leader Sukhdeep Singh Sekhon, who himself was shot dead a year later, in December 2013.

In April 2013, gangster Chamkaur Singh shot dead his rival Ranjit Singh in the orthopaedic ward of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital. Ranjit, facing 12 criminal cases, was said to be close to a senior Akali leader. In retaliation, Ranjit’s associates allegedly killed Chamkaur’s brother and nephew in March 2014. Chamkaur later joined the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Sukha Kahlwan, another high-profile gangster, was shot dead in police custody near Phagwara on January 21, 2015. The murder was claimed by Vicky Gounder, who said he had avenged the killing of his friend, Lovely Baba. A vehicle used in the attack was later recovered from the possession of Inspector Inderjit, arrested in a 2017 drug case.

Vicky Gounder (Express photo)

Political affiliations, too, repeatedly surfaced. On February 21, 2016, student leader-turned-Congress sarpanch Rajwinder Singh alias Ravi Khwajke was shot dead near Ludhiana. Gangster Davinder Bambiha allegedly avenged the 2014 killing of Kala Hawas, believed to have been killed by Khwajke and his brother.

On April 30, 2016, Rocky was killed near Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh. His former allies, Vicky Gounder and Jaipal Bhullar, claimed responsibility, each citing personal vendettas—one for Dimpy’s murder, the other for tipping off police about Shera Khuban, who was killed in a police encounter in 2012.

Shootouts continued: On August 11, 2016, Dilbagh Singh alias Lamma Patti was killed in a gunbattle in Tarn Taran district, in what the assailants claimed was a rescue mission. Dilbagh, out on bail in a murder case, had five criminal cases to his name and links with gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.

By 2017, the cycle showed no signs of slowing. Lavi Deora, a Kotkapura gangster, was murdered by Bhola Shooter and others from the Bishnoi gang. In 2018, gangster Jordan Chaudhary was killed in a gym, and in 2019, Bishnoi gang member Manpreet alias ‘Manna’ was murdered for allegedly informing police.

The killings became more public and more political. In October 2020, Gurlal Brar, cousin of gangster Goldy Brar, was shot dead in front of Chandigarh’s City Emporium Mall by alleged members of the Bambiha gang. Two weeks later, NSUI leader Ranjit Singh Rana was gunned down in retaliation. The Bishnoi gang claimed the murder.

A string of similar tit-for-tat killings followed. In February 2021, Congress leader Gurlal Singh Pehalwan was shot dead in Faridkot, allegedly to avenge Gurlal Brar’s killing. In July, gangsters Kulbir Naruana and Chamkaur Singh were shot dead in Bathinda. Their gang’s control later passed to Challa Sidhu.

Shera Khuban (Express photo)

On January 12, 2022, Manpreet Challa and Manpreet Vicky were shot dead in Bathinda in another retaliatory killing claimed by the Bambiha group. Just weeks later, on March 15, kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal Ambia was assassinated in Jalandhar. The Bambiha gang said he had links with the Bishnoi group.

Perhaps the most infamous fallout of these turf wars was the killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala on May 29, 2022. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang said it was revenge for the 2021 murder of Youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera, claimed by the Bambiha group.

Killings continued into 2023 and 2024. On February 26 last year, a gang war broke out between Bishnoi and Bhagwanpuria factions—both linked to the Moosewala case—leading to the deaths of Mandeep Toofan and Manmohan Mohana. On January 14 this year, sarpanch Sonu Cheema was shot dead in Tarn Taran while getting a shave; the attack was claimed by Amritpal Singh Bath, allegedly abroad and linked to Bhagwanpuria.

Police encounters: How the state struck back

Amid this bloodshed, the state has also responded with its own force—multiple gangsters have been killed in police encounters over the years.

• On September 6, 2012, highway robber Shera Khuban was killed in Bathinda.
• On April 27, 2013, Jai Singh Wala gang members Kulwinder and Nahar Singh were gunned down after killing a cop.
• On June 3, 2016, Haryana gangster Kannu Chhikara was shot dead in Bathinda.
• On September 11, 2016, Bambiha was killed in Rampura Phul.
• On December 14, 2017, Bhinda gang members Manpreet Manna and Prabhdeep Deepa were killed in an encounter.
• On January 26, 2018, OCU teams shot dead Vicky Gounder and Prema Lahoria.
• On February 7, 2019, shooter Ankit Bhadu was killed near Zirakpur.
• On March 3, 2019, gangster Jagsir Sira was gunned down by Haryana Police in an encounter.

From village sarpanches to student leaders, kabaddi players to cops, the list of victims has grown, as have the gangs’ reach and weaponry. Even as the state sharpens its crackdown through OCU units and transnational cooperation, Punjab remains on edge—caught between political patronage, vengeance, and a new-age gangster ecosystem that refuses to fade.