8 arrested in Sidhu Moose Wala's death including man who posed as fan, police say

Punjab police say they have arrested eight people in connection with the death of rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who rose to fame in Brampton, Ont.

The suspects have been taken into custody "forproviding logistic support, conducting [reconnaissance] and harbouring the shooters," police said in a news release Tuesday.

Police also said they have identified four shooters involved, who remain at large.

Moose Wala, 28,was shot dead on May 29 in Mansa, Punjab while driving with two other people. Police at the time said the killing was likely the result of an "inter-gang rivalry."

Police said one of the people arrested kept tabs on the rapper by pretending to be a fanand tookselfies withMoose Walaminutes before his death.

The suspect also allegedly relayed information thatMoose Walawas not accompanied by his security personnel, and was travelling in a non-bulletproof vehicle, police said.

The others arrested are accused of conducting surveillance onMoose Wala,assembling the team of shooters,supplyingthe shooters with a vehicle and providing them with a hideout.

"Cohesive efforts are being made to arrest the identified shooters and other accused persons involved in the crime," said police in the news release.

Rapper rose to fame in Canada

Moose Walawas born in Moosa, a village in the Mansa district of Punjab, India, in 1993. After receiving an electrical engineering degree in 2016, he moved to Brampton, Ont.

Moose Walafound much success in the Punjabi-language rap scene after moving to Canada. He has performed to sold-out crowds inWinnipegand Toronto, andwas also an iconic figure in Surrey, B.C. home to Canada's second-largest South Asian population. Several hundredpeople gathered in Surrey for a vigil following the star's death.

The rapper, who also had an acting career, had joined the Indian National Congress party last year after returning to his home country.

He had contested the Punjab state elections in 2022, losing toDr.Vijay Singlaof the Aam Aadmi Party, which is the ruling party in the state of Punjab and in Delhi.