Gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Photo Credit: The Times of India
In a brutal escalation of Punjab’s simmering gang rivalry, the mother of jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria was shot dead along with his close aide in Batala late Thursday night. The incident has intensified fears of a full-blown gang war as the Bambiha gang claimed responsibility, framing the killings as retaliation for an earlier murder.
The assailants, riding motorcycles, intercepted a car carrying Harjit Kaur, Bhagwanpuria’s mother, and his associate Karanvir Singh on Qadian Road near Urban Estate in Batala. Both were returning after attending a court hearing when three masked shooters opened fire. Karanvir died on the spot, while Harjit Kaur was critically injured and later succumbed to her wounds at a hospital in Amritsar.
According to The Times of India, within hours, a chilling message allegedly posted by members of the Bambiha gang surfaced on social media, claiming responsibility for the attack. According to the statement, the attack was in direct retaliation for the killing of their associate Gora Bariyar earlier this year, allegedly orchestrated by Bhagwanpuria’s men. The post warned of more such actions if threats against their gang continued, stating that “whoever speaks against us will meet the same fate.”
CCTV footage from the area showed the attackers following the car before opening fire and fleeing the scene. The police have formed multiple teams to track down the suspects, with senior officers now overseeing the investigation. However, no arrests have been made yet.
This deadly attack marks a disturbing shift in the dynamics of Punjab’s criminal underworld. While gang rivalries have often resulted in violent shootouts, the killing of a gangster’s mother, a civilian uninvolved in direct operations, signals a personal and more ruthless turn in gang warfare.
Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, currently lodged in Assam’s Silchar Jail under high-security arrangements, has long been associated with high-profile crimes, including the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala, drug trafficking, extortion, and gunrunning. With over 120 FIRs against him, Bhagwanpuria is considered one of Punjab’s most dangerous gangsters, with influence extending across state and even international borders.
Karanvir Singh, who was killed alongside Harjit Kaur, was not just a personal aide—he was a key figure in managing the Bhagwanpuria gang’s day-to-day operations. According to police sources, he was responsible for facilitating communications between jailed members, managing logistics, and overseeing financial channels. His father is reportedly an Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Punjab Police, raising troubling questions about criminal penetration into law enforcement networks.
The Batala shooting has sparked widespread panic in the region, with locals and traders demanding increased security. The brazenness of the attack—in broad daylight, on a busy road, with impunity—has shaken public confidence in the state’s ability to control organized crime.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police have stepped up surveillance, deployed additional forces, and tightened security around suspected gang hotspots and jails. Special task forces are being mobilized to crack down on gang-linked activities. However, critics argue these measures are reactionary and unlikely to stop future bloodshed unless systemic reforms are undertaken.
This incident also revives larger concerns about gang influence in Punjab’s prisons. Despite being incarcerated, leaders like Bhagwanpuria and rivals from the Bambiha gang continue to operate, issue orders, and orchestrate killings—often through digital means or intermediaries on the outside.
As investigators comb through phone records and digital trails, the government faces mounting pressure to clamp down on gang networks, enhance prison oversight, and safeguard the public. Civil society and political observers alike have called for stricter arms regulation, anti-gang legislation, and tighter coordination between state and central security agencies.
For now, the twin killings in Batala—especially the murder of a gangster’s mother—stand as a grim reminder that Punjab’s gang wars are no longer confined to rival foot soldiers or crime syndicate leaders. The lines between personal and criminal have been erased, and the cost of silence—or association—can now be fatal.
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