Sidhu Moose Wala lost govt security day before murder: AAP's anti-VIP security campaign explained

Punjabi singer and politician Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead on May 29. The deadly attack occurred just a day after his security cover was withdrawn by the state government.

Moose Wala, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was among the 424 people whose security was withdrawn by Punjab police on May 28. The others who lose state security were two former MLAs, two Jathedars of Takht Damdama Sahib and Takht Kesgarh Sahib, heads of Deras and serving and retired policemen.

On May 28, a controversy had broken out over the issue of state security. The government first trimmed, but then sought to restore the security of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh. Singh had refused police cover, saying Sikh youth and Khalsa Panth were enough for his security.

The Akal Takht Jathedar was recently in news for saying that Sikh youth should arm themselves with licensed weapons. CM Bhagwant Mann had criticised the statement.

The spate of state security being withdrawn began after the Aam Aadmi Party won the Punjab elections, but before the government was sworn in. On March 12, Punjab police withdrew security of 122 former ministers and MLAs.

Also watch: Sidhu Moose Wala's life: controversial music, gun culture row, politics with Congress

The decision had coincided with then-CM-designate Bhagwant Mann's statement that Punjab police was providing security to politicians, while police stations were lying vacant. Mann had said that the politician-centric approach in policing would be changed to people-centric approach.

Since the first order, at least 4 more such directives were issued by the AAP government.