Full Breakdown
Mad Sandhu’s Murder Raises Alarm Over Safety of LGBTQ Influencers in Punjab
By Drooid · · How we work
The Fatal Shooting
On October 3, 2026, Madhusudan Sandhu – known online as Mad Sandhu – was shot dead by two unidentified men on a motorcycle at a car-washing point on Loharka Road in Amritsar at around 6 p.m. Police say two to three rounds were fired at close range; he was rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Background & Context
Mad Sandhu was an LGBTQ influencer, makeup artist and founder of the Mane Lane Unisex Salon. He appeared in the Punjabi film *Oye Bhole Oye* and had roughly 2.26 lakh Instagram followers. His content mixed beauty tutorials with open discussions of gender and LGBTQ issues, attracting both support and homophobic trolling. He later said he had altered his content but alleged that older videos were being reshared to provoke controversy.
The killing follows a pattern of violence against Punjab creators: Kanchan Kumari (June 2025) and Manjeet Kaur (August 28, 2025) were also murdered after their online presence drew extremist backlash.
Data & Statistics
- Instagram followers: 2.26 lakh (The Hindu, Livemint).
- Shots fired: two to three rounds; two empty shells recovered.
- Prior creator-related murders in Punjab: Kanchan Kumari – June 2025; Manjeet Kaur – August 28, 2025.
Why It Matters
This is the first reported homicide of an openly LGBTQ person in Punjab, highlighting the vulnerability of queer individuals in a region where conservative norms clash with gender-fluid expression. The case has reignited debate over online hate, extremist vigilante groups, and law-enforcement’s ability to act on documented threats.
Official Statements & Responses
- Deputy Commissioner of Police Sirivennela confirmed the time of the attack and said police have “some leads” while examining CCTV footage and forensic evidence.
- MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla demanded an early arrest of the accused and a thorough probe into the threats Sandhu had publicly reported.
- Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticised Punjab’s law-and-order situation, stating, “There is no law and order in Punjab. The law and order situation in Punjab is in the hands of the mafia.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of failing to protect ordinary citizens and called for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation.
- MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla argued that police ignored Sandhu’s repeated threat reports, suggesting that timely security measures might have saved his life.
On-the-Ground Reports
Eyewitnesses said Sandhu was shot at close range; a video circulating on social media showed him lying blood-soaked on the road while bystanders attempted to lift him. Police recovered two empty shells and are reviewing CCTV footage to reconstruct the shooters’ escape route.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Social-media posts, including one attributed to a gangster known as “Goldy Dhillon,” claimed responsibility, but police have not confirmed any link. The motive remains unestablished; investigators are exploring possibilities ranging from personal enmity to extremist opposition and organized-crime retaliation.