Amritsar: The murder of Punjabi influencer and LGBTQ activist Mad Sandhu has taken a new turn with the arrest of an alleged shooter in Ahmedabad, nearly a week after the 29 year old was killed in Amritsar.
The accused has been identified as Parminder Prasad, alias Parminder Kaka. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested him in coordination with Gujarat Police. Investigators allege that Parminder fired at Sandhu and arranged the motorcycle used in the attack.
Police are now looking into his alleged links with gangster Goldy Dhillon and whether the killing was carried out as a contract hit.
Sandhu, whose real name was Madhusudan Sandhu, was shot dead on October 3 near a car washing centre on Loharka Road in Amritsar. Police said two men on a motorcycle followed him before opening fire. Sandhu suffered serious injuries and died while being taken to hospital.
The investigation had earlier pointed towards a possible planned killing. Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanveer Singh Gill said investigators suspected that shooters may have been hired to carry out the attack. Two people were also detained for questioning during the early stages of the probe.
The case also drew attention after social media posts allegedly linked to Goldy Dhillon and foreign-based gangster Lucky Johal claimed responsibility for the killing. Police, however, initially said the posts could not be authenticated and warned against treating them as confirmation of gang involvement.
With Parminder’s arrest, investigators are now trying to piece together the bigger picture who ordered the killing, who paid for it and whether a larger criminal network was behind the attack.
Sandhu was known as a makeup artist, social media personality and outspoken LGBTQ voice in Punjab. He openly spoke about his identity and regularly shared content online. Police have also looked into reports that he had faced threats and trolling, although no specific motive connected to his LGBTQ activism has been established so far.
For now, the arrest is being seen as an important breakthrough, but the alleged mastermind and the exact reason behind Sandhu’s killing remain unclear.
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