Mohali: A kabaddi player and tournament promoter, Rana Balachauria, was shot dead by unidentified assailants during a live kabaddi match in Sohana area of Mohali on Monday evening, triggering panic among players and spectators, police said.The incident took place at a ground in Sector-82 when a kabaddi tournament was underway.
According to officials, the attackers approached Balachauria on the pretext of taking selfies and opened fire at close range, hitting him in the head. He was rushed to Fortis Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police said at least six rounds were fired, with bullets also passing over the spectators, who initially mistook the sound for firecrackers. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting, with some witnesses claiming they escaped in a Bolero vehicle, while others reported seeing assailants on motorcycles.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohali, Harmandeep Singh Hans said only the promoter was targeted in the attack.
He said CCTV footage from the area is being examined and multiple teams have been formed to trace the assailants. The motive behind the killing is being investigated from all angles, including possible gang rivalry.
Soon after the incident, a social media post surfaced in which a gangster group claimed responsibility for the killing, alleging the victim’s links with rival gangs. Police said they are verifying the authenticity of the claim.
Balachauria, whose real name was Kanwar Digvijay Singh, was originally from Balachaur and had been living in Mohali for some time. He was associated with kabaddi as a player and promoter and had recently brought teams to the Sohana tournament. Further investigation is underway.
