Killer Of Kabaddi Player Rana Balachauria: Gangster Karan Killed In Police Encounter In Punjab

Gangster Karan alias 'Defaulter', one of the accused in the murder of Kabaddi player Rana Balachauria, was killed in a police encounter near the cricket stadium in New Chandigarh, SSP Mohali Harmandeep Singh Hans confirmed.

The accused was injured during an exchange of fire with the police and later died at a hospital. One police personnel was also injured in the encounter.

How the Encounter Unfolded

Police officials said Karan was taken late at night to recover a bore pistol when he managed to escape from police custody. He remained absconding for nearly six to seven hours, prompting an extensive search operation.

#WATCH | Mohali, Punjab | SSP Harmandeep Singh says, "The main shooter in the Rana Balachauria murder case was arrested in West Bengal. He was jailed in CIA Kharar. He complained about chest pain, for which he was being taken to the hospital last night. Due to excessive fog and… pic.twitter.com/Khf2zIBXP2

— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2026

Later, police received information that he was hiding in the Mullanpur area. A team was sent to the location and a trap was laid. When police tried to arrest him, Karan allegedly opened fire. The police retaliated, during which he sustained gunshot injuries.
Officials said Karan fired six to seven rounds, while the police fired nine to ten rounds in response.

Accused Died During Treatment

After the encounter, Karan was rushed to the hospital for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries. SSP Harmandeep said that Karan had earlier complained of chest pain, which is why police were taking him to the hospital before his escape.

The SSP added that the source of the weapon used by the accused is still under investigation, but it is believed that he arranged the firearm during the hours he was on the run.

Links to Foreign-Based Gangsters

Police said the accused were acting on the instructions of foreign-based gangsters, including Balwinder Singh alias Donny Bal and Amarjit Singh alias Khabba.
Karan Pathak, also known as Karan Defaulter, was 23 years old and originally from Uttar Pradesh, though he was living in Amritsar. Police said he was directly involved in the shooting of Rana Balachauria along with another accused, Aditya alias Makhan.

Another accused, Tarandeep Singh from Ludhiana, allegedly helped the shooters escape by providing a motorcycle after the crime.

Second Encounter in the Same Case

Earlier, another key accused, Harpinder alias Middu, was also killed in a separate police encounter in Mohali. He was identified as the main accused in the murder case. Two police personnel were injured during that operation and are currently undergoing treatment.
With these developments, two accused in the Rana Balachauria murder case have now been killed in separate police encounters.

About the Murder Case

Rana Balachauria, a Kabaddi player, was shot dead during a Kabaddi tournament in Sector 79, Sohana, Mohali, on December 15. The attack was carried out by motorcycle-borne assailants during the match.

Later, the Bambiha gang's Ghanashampuria faction and its associates claimed responsibility for the killing. Police investigations into the case are still ongoing, and efforts are being made to trace other gang members involved.