Fridae

Police in the Indian city of Amritsar announced on 8 October that six people had been arrested in connection with the killing of makeup artist and LGBTQ+ social media creator Mad Sandhu. The announcement follows his fatal shooting on 3 October on Loharka Road.

The Commissionerate Police Amritsar statement, reproduced by ThePrint, said the operation involved Gujarat Police. The arrests are a development in the investigation, not findings of guilt.

What have police said?

According to reporting from the 8 October press conference, police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill said a suspect identified by investigators as the main shooter had been traced to Gujarat. An Amritsar team travelled there to complete the legal procedures for bringing him back.

The Indian Express reported that police were still seeking a second suspected shooter and investigating the roles of alleged overseas handlers. Sandhu had been attacked near a car-washing business where he had gone to collect his vehicle.

What remains unresolved?

Gill outlined a preliminary theory that the killing was intended to build notoriety and create fear to support future extortion. That is a police account under investigation. It does not establish the complete motive or the responsibility of every person involved.

The Times of India also reported that police were verifying social-media claims of responsibility. Such posts should not be treated as proof of who ordered the attack, or why.

Questions about earlier threats

Sandhu’s work brought makeup artistry and gender issues into public view. His death has also drawn attention to the threats that his family says he faced.

In a 5 October report, The Indian Express quoted his father, Bhupinder Singh, describing earlier abuse and threats and saying that his son had submitted requests to police for protection. This is the family’s account; it does not by itself establish what police knew or how they responded.

The arrests and the questions about earlier threats deserve careful scrutiny. Neither should become a shortcut to declaring a hate-crime motive or assigning criminal guilt before the evidence is examined.

What should an effective police response to threats against LGBTQ+ creators include, before violence occurs? Share your view in the comments.