OBJECTIVES OF STUDY :
- Who is Sindh Moosewala and why is he in news.
- To know about VIP culture in India.
- Gun culture in Punjab and its impact.
- Future precautions that need to be considered.
WHO IS SIDHU MOOSEWALA :
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, was a Punjabi singer, rapper, actor and politician. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and was unsuccessful in polls held in 2022 for Punjab Legislative Assembly election from Mansa. Moose Wala, who learnt music during college and moved to Canada after completing his education, gained popularity for his gangster rap.
WHY IS HE IN NEWS :
Moosewala, aged 28 was shot while he was driving his SUV in village Jhawahar Ke in Mansa district with two others, and was declared brought dead at the Mansa Civil Hospital. The tragic attack took place after the Punjab Government had ordered the withdrawal or pruning of security for 424 persons, including MLAs, religious leaders and retired police officers.
OBSERVATIONS BY POLICE :
- Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster, who is a close aide of the Lawrence Bishnoi [who is currently in jail ] gang that took responsibility for the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala.
- Goldy Brar is a wanted criminal in India after being involved in multiple criminal cases. He is a prime accused in the 2020 murder case of the District Youth Congress president,
Gurlal Singh Pehalwan. He has a non-bailable warrant against him over the killing of Youth Congress leader Gurlal Singh Pehalwan
- As per the Punjab DGP, He took the responsibility of the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala saying it was done to revenge the death of youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera.
- He also claimed that Moose Wala was behind the murder of his brother Gurlal Brar as well as in the encounter of Ankit Bhadu. One of Moose Wala’s manager had been involved in the killing of Vikram Singh Middukhera last year. The manager, Shagunpreet then reportedly fled to Australia.
- Punjab Director General of Police V K Bhawra on Sunday said the killing of the popular singer seemed to be the result of an inter-gang rivalry and that the Canada–based Lawrence Bishnoi gang was behind it.
- But the government’s move sparked controversy after the names VIPS list were leaked on social media, with some pointing out that it increased the threat to their lives.
WHAT IS VIP PROTECTION :
- Very Important Personage’s (VIP) Protection is usually offered to someone who holds a high-ranking position in the government or in civil society, hence the term “VIP security.”
- It is generally given only to someone who holds a position of consequence either in the government or in civil society.
- Certain individuals, by reason of positions they hold in government, are automatically entitled to security cover. They include:
- The Prime Minister and his immediate family.
- The Home Minister.
- Officials such as the National Security Advisor.
In cases where the central government decides to extend security to an individual, the level of security needed by any individual is decided by the MHA, based on inputs received from intelligence agencies which include the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The concerned state must bare the expenses for security.
- Confidential Inputs: The intelligence inputs that these agencies generate, particularly in cases where VIP security is involved, is neither put out in the public domain nor is it open to scrutiny by any other agency. But in this case it was a gross misuse of confidentiality.
- Concern due to lack of Accountability: for political or “prestige” reasons, and not necessarily because of any genuine threat.
- Levels of Protection: There are broadly six categories of security cover: X, Y, Y-plus, Z, Z-plus, and SPG (Special Protection Group).
The other issue which triggered after the death of prominent singer was the promotion of gun culture.
PROMOTING GUN CULTURE IN PUNJAB :
- Sindh moosewala was known to openly promote gun culture, glorifying gangsters in provocative songs. He is facing charges of promoting violence and gun culture in his song “Sanju”. In May 2020, two videos of Moose Wala went viral on social media, in which he was seen taking training in operating an AK-47 and a personal pistol along with five policemen.
- In this case, cases were registered against Moose Wala under the Arms Act and the police started raids to nab him.
- The Punjab state has only 2% of country’s population, but it has 10% of the total gun licenses. It is also one of the states having highest number of Gun licenses in the recent years. According to a data published by S. Karuna Raju, the state’s chief electoral officer,
on 19 January There are more than 390,275 active licensed weapons in the state. There are about 13 gun licenses for every 1000 people in Punjab. Experts believe it is the pop songs that are to be blamed for this excessive portrayal of guns. These songs are mostly cater to upper caste Jatt Sikhs and the lyrics normalize the usage of guns as if it is a status symbol.
The fact that elite gangsters have a substantial social media following among teens demonstrates the influence of weapons. Some of the gangs or gangsters have recently begun interfering in college and university student elections, resulting in an increase in campus violence. These type of circumstances will lay a huge impact on the youth and there is a chance of youth attracting towards such malicious acts.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT:
- Whether the reason behind death of young singer may be the lack of cyber security to deal with leakage of confidential matters or Punjab widespread inter gang rivalry or the involvement of foreign gangsters, the surveillance of police must enlarge.
- There must be proper laws pertaining to gross miscarriage of rifles and guns.