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Punjab Police Say Killing of LGBTQ Activist Was Premeditated Murder

Mad Sandhu, a prominent LGBTQ rights figure from Punjab, was shot dead in Amritsar on Saturday in what police say was a planned attack. The assailants pursued him on a motorcycle before opening fire at a car wash facility.

LSN India · 4 October 2026

Police in Amritsar are investigating the shooting death of Mad Sandhu, one of Punjab's most recognizable LGBTQ activists, as a deliberate act of premeditated murder. The incident occurred Saturday afternoon at a car-washing facility on Loharka Road, where authorities say two gunmen on a motorcycle tracked and attacked Sandhu before firing multiple shots. Sandhu was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to injuries during transportation. Initial investigations suggest the attackers had planned the assault beforehand and deliberately followed Sandhu to the location before carrying out the shooting. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects, who fled the scene on their motorcycle. The killing has sent shockwaves through Punjab's LGBTQ community and civil society, with calls for swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice. Police have appealed for information from the public and are examining CCTV footage from the area to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.