Social media influencer Mad Sandhu shot dead in Amritsar

AMRITSAR: Social media influencer and make-up artist Mad Sandhu was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Saturday evening, with police saying they have got “solid leads” in the case and would soon arrest those involved.

Commissioner of police (CP) Harmanbir Singh Gill said Sandhu, the son of a retired Punjab Police sub-inspector, had given his car for washing when he was attacked. He lived in a residential colony falling under the jurisdiction of Amritsar Rural police. “Police have solid leads and we will soon nab the culprits and ensure exemplary punishment for them,” Gill said.

According to reports, the incident took place around 6pm when two motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at Sandhu on Loharka Road. He suffered multiple bullet injuries and was being taken to a private hospital in a critical condition when he died on the way.

A video purportedly showing the aftermath of the shooting surfaced on social media, showing Sandhu lying injured on the road while his associates tried to lift him. Empty bullet shells were also seen at the spot. Police sources informed that police had recovered two empty shells from the scene and formed a team to identify and arrest the assailants.

Notably, in the recent past Sandhu had been involved in a controversy with Nihang jathedar Manpreet Singh Khalsa over his social media content, clothing and older videos. The Nihang side had objected to his online activities and warned him against content it claimed could have a negative impact on Punjab's culture and youth. Sandhu had then reportedly said he had changed and stopped repeating his past mistakes, and alleged that his old videos were being reshared to create controversy. CP said that police are investigating the incident with multiple angles to reveal the actual motive behind the killing of Mad Sandhu.