'Shiv Sena' Leader Shot Dead; KZF Operatives Jailed

On 13 Mar, the Moga district president of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) Mangat Rai alias Manga, was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne assailants in Panjab. The attack occurred late in the evening when Manga, 52, stepped out to buy groceries. A 12-year-old boy was also injured when a bullet missed Manga and hit him. CCTV footage shows Manga attempting to evade the attackers by scaling a gate, but he was eventually chased and shot dead. The assailants posted a video on Instagram claiming responsibility, alleging Manga extorted money and threatened their families. Police have registered a First Information Report against six suspects, citing personal rivalry as the motive. Manga’s family denies any enmity, and Shiv Sena workers protested, blocking National Highway 5 at Ferozepur demanding justice, a government job for the family, and financial assistance. Meanwhile, six individuals linked to the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) were sentenced to life imprisonment by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar for smuggling weapons, ammunition, and explosives via drones in 2019. Three others received ten-year prison terms. The group, allegedly connected to Germany-based Gurmeet Singh Bagga and Pakistan-based Ranjeet Singh Neeta, are allegedly fomenting terror in Panjab, but evidence remains ambiguous. The NIA took over the case in October 2019, uncovering a conspiracy to distribute arms and counterfeit currency in Tarn Taran district. The court imposed fines on all nine convicts, who were charged under the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act. Lawyer Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, representing the accused, lamented the sentencing without the NIA filing cases, faulty evidence and no recovery of weapons. He announced he would boycott the NIA court until the judge Manjot Kaur is replaced.