Amar Singh Chamkila murder: Driver's recollection of what happened in 1988 Mehsampur shootout

Imtiaz Ali’s latest film, "Amar Singh Chamkila," has stirred widespread interest in the details surrounding the tragic murder of Punjabi singer Chamkila and his wife, Amarjot, back in 1988. Shedding light on the events of that fateful day, Chamkila’s former driver, Ranjeet Singh, recounted the moments leading up to the fatal incident in a recent interview.

Incident Recall

Speaking to Baltej Sran, Singh recounted that Chamkila and Amarjot had a meal before heading to the venue, accompanied by Chamkila’s secretary Manku and dholak player Lal Chand. As they exited the car, gunmen opened fire, leading to the devastating loss of their lives.

“We had a meal together at a nearby house, and then Manku went ahead to engage with the crowd at the venue. Shortly after, we heard him announcing Chamkila’s imminent arrival in a few minutes. That's when we all got into the car and headed over. However, as soon as we reached, the firing began,” Singh narrated in Punjabi.

Escape and Chaos

“Amarjot sat in the middle of the back seat with Chamkila beside her. The dholak player exited first, but the firing commenced immediately,” he added, describing the chaotic scene where people fled in panic, leaving shoes behind as they sought cover.

Survival and Surrender

Remarkably, Manku survived as he was on stage, while Lal Chand sought refuge in nearby fields. Singh recalled that the assailants demanded the car keys without threatening him directly. “They were three men. Chaos ensued after the firing. People fled, leaving their shoes behind,” he said.

After fulfilling police formalities, Ranjeet Singh handed Chamkila’s belongings over to his family, marking a solemn conclusion to the tragic events.

Chamkila’s secretary Manku had previously recounted the tense atmosphere of that day, expressing gratitude for surviving the ordeal. “The shooters were among the crowd. They could have struck earlier, but they waited. Chamkila's arrival was grand, like a movie scene. No sooner had I announced his arrival, I heard the shots,” Manku shared in Punjabi.