Mad Sandhu, Punjabi LGBTQ+ influencer, shot dead in Amritsar

Madhusudan “Mad” Sandhu, a prominent Punjabi LGBTQ+ influencer and makeup artist, was shot dead in Amritsar, India, on October 3. The attack occurred around 6:00 PM near a car-washing business on Loharka Road, where two unidentified men on a motorcycle opened fire before fleeing. Sandhu succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds while being transported to a private hospital.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill stated that preliminary investigations suggest the killing was a planned incident. Authorities are investigating the possibility of a contract killing involving criminal gangs. While online posts from an account using the name “Goldy Dhillon” claimed responsibility for the murder, police have cautioned that such claims may not be authentic and noted that some posts appeared to originate from outside India.

Two individuals have been arrested for questioning as investigators work to identify the primary shooters and the mastermind behind the attack. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and forensic evidence to establish a motive and connections to organized crime.