Star Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala shot dead at 28 in Punjab, police say

• Prominent Indian rapper and politician Sidhu Moose Wala has died at 28 years old.
• He was shot in his car and pronounced dead at the hospital where he was taken for gunshot wounds, police said.

Prominent Indian rapper and politician Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead Sunday. He was 28 years old.

Moose Wala, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was shot while driving near his home in the Mansa district of India's Punjab state by an unidentified gunman, CNN reported, citing Punjab police chief Viresh Kumar Bhawra. After the shooting, Moose Wala was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead, Bhawra told reporters.

Bhawra told reporters that the rapper left his home in a car with two other people around 4:30 p.m. local time. About one hour later, two other cars approached Moose Wala's from the front and opened fire, CNN reported, citing Bhawra.

Bhawra said that the police department's initial investigation into the attack determined that the shooting was linked to gang rivalry, CBS News reported.

But India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has accused Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of allowing the shooting to occur.

"Sidhu Moose Wala was gunned down in a state-sponsored murder," the Bharatiya Janata Party said in a statement, according to CNN. "The AAP government is totally responsible for this."

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, a member of the AAP, said he is "shocked and deeply saddened by the gruesome murder of Siddhu Moose Wala," and that "nobody involved will be spared."

Protests broke out following Moose Wala's death, with members of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee taking to the streets Monday following the news.

The shooting came just one day after the Punjab government pulled security coverage for more than 400 officials, Moose Wala being one, CNN reported, citing the Press Trust of India.

Moose Wala still had some protection, though, with two guards available to him. He chose not to use them on Sunday, Bhawra told reporters.

"When he left his house, he did not take commando [guards] with them and told them that they did not need to come," Bhawra said, according to CNN.

Moose Wala rose to fame after his first release in 2017, becoming a prominent musician and a household name.

Rapper Drake shared the news of Moose Wala's death in a since-deleted Instagram post, adding "RIP Moose" in the caption, according to CNN.

British rapper Stefflon Don shared a slideshow of images and videos of Moose Wala on her Instagram in memorial.

"Rest in power Legend Your impact will live on forever," she wrote in the caption.

"Absolutely devastating and upsetting news," wrote comedian Lilly Singh on Instagram.

"Beyond the care he had for his community, he created the soundtrack that made many of us feel seen, a perfect blend of hip hop, rap and folk music," Singh continued, adding, "Rest in power. Gone way, way too soon. Thank you for changing the game.