Prominent LGBTQ+ Influencer Mad Sandhu Shot Dead in Amritsar
AMRITSAR – The Punjabi social media landscape was plunged into mourning on Saturday following the brutal murder of Madhusudan, widely known as Mad Sandhu. The celebrated makeup artist and LGBTQ+ activist was gunned down in broad daylight by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle.
According to police reports, the incident occurred at approximately 6:00 PM. Sandhu was found critically injured on a local street, with harrowing footage of the aftermath circulating rapidly across various social media platforms. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the influencer succumbed to a gunshot wound shortly after the attack.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sirivennela confirmed that a formal investigation is underway. “Two unidentified men fired at him around 6 PM,” the official stated, as law enforcement agencies began combing the area for CCTV footage and potential leads to identify the perpetrators.
A Voice Silenced by Hate
Sandhu, a stylist and assistant costume designer who had worked on several film productions in both Punjab and Mumbai, was a trailblazer for the queer community in the region. Beyond his professional work in fashion and his acting roles in projects like the Oye Bhole Oye series, he became a household name through Instagram. He consistently used his platform to speak openly about pop culture, gender issues, and the necessity of LGBTQ+ acceptance.
He was frequently the target of virulent homophobic trolling. However, rather than retreating, Sandhu often addressed his critics directly. His recurring response to detractors—”God has made me the way I am”—came to define his public identity as a defiant and authentic advocate for self-expression.
A Pattern of Moral Policing
The tragedy in Amritsar bears a chilling resemblance to the murder of another social media influencer, Kanchan Kumari (known as Kamal Kaur Bhabhi), in June 2025. In that case, the investigation revealed a premeditated act of moral policing. Kumari was lured from her Ludhiana home under the false pretense of a brand promotion and murdered by radical vigilante Amritpal Singh Mehron.
Mehron, who claimed that Kumari’s content was “vulgar” and demanded she drop the surname “Kaur,” famously justified the killing in a public video before fleeing to the UAE. Following extensive efforts, he was deported to India and arrested at Delhi airport in April 2026. He is currently facing murder charges in a Bathinda court. The parallels between these two incidents have sparked widespread concern regarding the safety of digital creators in Punjab who challenge conservative social norms.
Mounting Violence in Punjab
The atmosphere of unrest was further exacerbated by a separate violent incident occurring just hours before the attack on Sandhu. In Mullanpur, Ludhiana, a man identified as Ladi Khan was killed on Friday night after assailants in a Hyundai Verna opened fire on his vehicle. His companion managed to escape the scene unscathed.
Police are currently investigating the Mullanpur murder as a separate case, exploring motives ranging from personal disputes to gang rivalries. As the region reels from this wave of violence, the back-to-back attacks have left the local community and the influencer circuit in a state of shock, raising urgent questions about public safety and the rising threat of extremist vigilantism.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
