Sidhu Moosewala Killing: Gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria's role crops up; to be quizzed

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, June 29

Singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder was not the handiwork of just one gang led by Lawrence Bishnoi. Another A-listed notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria was also involved in it, according to the latest police investigation in the case.

Bhagwanpuria, brought on production remand today from Tihar Jail, New Delhi, where Lawrence Bishnoi was also lodged earlier, had allegedly provided two shooters Jagroop Roopa and Mannu Kusa (accused in the case) to the Bishnoi gang. Both shooters are still at large. It is a month since the singer was killed in Jawaharke village with six shooters surrounding his Thar jeep and firing at him with sophisticated weapons. The Delhi Police have arrested two shooters— Priyawarat and Kashish from Gujarat—while the Punjab Police have so far arrested 32 members of the Bishnoi gang. Thirteen of the arrested are accused of direct involvement in the Moosewala case while 19 others were indirectly involved.

Four main shooters, including Roopa, Mannu, are still at large. The arrested shooter Priyawarat has told the Delhi Police that Mannu was the first to fire at the singer.

As per information available with the Punjab Police, Bhagwanpuria helped the Lawrence gang on a quid pro quo basis. An official said Lawrence had helped Bhagwanpuria in another killing case earlier, “So far, it does not seem Jaggu had a personal issue with Moosewala unlike Lawrence. Possibly, he did it for money. The Lawrence and Bhagwanpuria gangs have one of the biggest networks in the region.”

Bhagwanpuria’s link with Akali and Congress leaders made headlines in the recent past. Bhagwanpuria’s name had also come up prominently in the kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambian’s murder case. It was alleged that the kabaddi league run by Sandeep was protected by Bhagwanpuria.

Giving details of the gangster, the police said Jagdeep Singh, alias Jaggu, of Bhagwanpura village in Batala is a notorious gangster with 68 criminal cases against him which include murder, contract killing, robbery, extortion, and cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons. He has rivalry with Davinder Bambiha gang.

His major killings include that of gangster Sanjiv Kumar, alias Bubba, in Amritsar and Rana Kandowalia, his arch-rival.

Deputed 2 shooters

• Bhagwanpuria deputed 2 shooters Roopa & Mannu to Bishnoi; both still at large
• Mannu was first to fire at Sidhu Moosewala
• Bhagwanpuria brought on production remand from Tihar, will be produced in Mansa court today

Quid pro quo arrangement

• Bhagwanpuria helped Lawrence gang on a quid pro quo basis
• Lawrence had helped Bhagwanpuria in a killing case earlier
• Jaggu unlikely to have personal issue with Moosewala. He may have done it for money, say police