Father of slain singer Sidhu Moosewala?appealed to fans to peacefully assemble in numbers in Punjab's Mansa to mark the singer's first death anniversary which will be observed today.?He also questioned?the timing of the police crackdown on?Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh-led Waris Punjab De and alleged that it was an attempt to prevent Mooswala's fans from attending his?'barsi'.

In a video message,?Balkaur Singh appealed to masses to reach Mansa in huge numbers to “chalk out next plan” to seek justice for Moosewala. The family has been alleging that there is a "bigger conspiracy" behind the killing and the police must arrest the "actual masterminds".

Punjabi singer?Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead?in Jawahar Ke village Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, 2022. He was travelling with his cousin and a friend in a car when bullets were sprayed on him by six shooters.?Punjab's Director General of Police VK Bhawra initially said at least three weapons were used and 30 rounds fired in the attack.?Inter-gang rivalry has been suspected to be behind Moosewala's murder since the very beginning.?

Meanwhile, ahead of the singer's first death anniversary,?an interview of the prime accused in his murder, Lawrence Bishnoi emerged,?purportedly from inside jail.?The Opposition Congress lashed out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann,?questioning?the timing of the interview and demanded?his resignation.

According to Indian Express, Singh alleged that the TV interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi ahead of his son's death anniversary is a "planned conspiracy to tarnish Moosewala’s image".

“A criminal sitting inside a jail is calling himself a nationalist and talking of eliminating drugs. What can be a bigger irony than this. It was all done days ahead of our programme to tarnish my son’s image and by trying to link him with gangsters,” he said.

In the run-up to the crackdown on Khalistan supporter Amritpal, the Union government had deployed security personnel to Punjab, including specialised riot control paramilitary personnel.

Moreover, internet and SMS services were suspended on Saturday across Punjab till 12 noon Monday, said the department of Home Affairs and Justice, which issued the order fearing incitement to violence by "certain" people.

(With inputs from PTI)