Final fight: Wrestler ‘Bhola Bhala’ shot dead by rivals

Police officials say he was murdered by foes to avenge an old dispute.

FAISALABAD: An international wrestler who represented Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games was shot dead by rivals in the limits of Toba Tek Singh police station on Saturday.

Police said that Basharat Ali, popularly known as Bhola Bhala, was pillion riding with his friend Shajar Shah when his rival Aneesur Rehman and his two accomplices opened fire at him near the Sports Stadium on Jhang-Toba Road. An official added that the killing may have been revenge for an old dispute.

“Bhola Bhala sustained fatal bullet wounds and was rushed to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Toba Tek Singh. The assailants managed to escape from the scene,” he said.

Bhola Bhala was then referred to Faisalabad’s Allied Hospital due to his critical condition, where he later expired despite doctors’ attempts to save his life in a procedure that lasted several hours.

Bhola Bhala represented Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games and won the wrestling championship held in Jalandhar, India, after defeating wrestlers from 15 countries.

When contacted, SHO Toba Tek Singh said a police team has been constituted to hunt down the alleged killers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2013.