Key Accused in Kabaddi Promoter Murder Killed in Punjab Police Encounter

Karan Pathak, alias Defaulter, a key accused in the December 2025 murder of kabaddi promoter Rana Balachauria, was killed in a police encounter near New Chandigarh, Punjab. After escaping custody while being taken for medical treatment, Pathak remained at large for six to seven hours, during which he allegedly obtained a firearm and fired at police. The police returned fire, injuring a constable and fatally wounding Pathak, who died during hospital treatment. Investigations continue into how he acquired the weapon and escaped custody. The killing is linked to gang rivalries involving foreign-based gangsters.