Chandigarh: One of the shooters involved in the murder of kabaddi promoter-cum-player Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria was killed in an alleged exchange of fire with Punjab Police in Mohali on Saturday, police said.

The accused, Karan Pathak alias Karan Defaulter, a resident of Amritsar, was in the custody of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) when he escaped late Friday night. He was later traced and confronted by police in the Kharar area of Mohali, where the encounter took place.

Escape After Medical Complaint

According to Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans, Pathak complained of chest pain on Friday night and was being taken to a hospital. At around 11:30 pm, the police vehicle reportedly hit a road divider due to poor visibility caused by fog, following which Pathak managed to escape from custody.

A district-wide manhunt was immediately launched, and police units in Chandigarh, Rupnagar, and Fatehgarh Sahibwere alerted. Multiple checkpoints were set up to track the accused.

Encounter in Kharar

Police spotted Pathak at around 6:30 am on Saturday in Kharar. When asked to stop, he allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire, discharging six to seven rounds at the police team.

Police retaliated, during which Pathak sustained gunshot injuries. He was first taken to a nearby private hospital and later referred to a government hospital, where he was declared dead.

Weapon Yet to Be Recovered

When asked how Pathak obtained a firearm after escaping custody, the SSP said the accused remained at large for six to seven hours and may have procured the weapon from a location where it had been previously hidden. The weapon has not yet been recovered, and further investigation is underway.

Background of the Case

Rana Balachauria was shot dead on December 15, 2025, during a kabaddi tournament in Sohana, Mohali, triggering widespread concern over gang-related violence in sports circles.

Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) had earlier arrested Pathak, another shooter Tarandeep Singh, and an accomplice from Howrah in West Bengal in connection with the murder.

Police said investigations are continuing to establish the full conspiracy, source of weapons, and links to organised crime networks.