Three Indian nationals under investigation over gurdwara double murder in Italy ‘triggered by succession feud’

TOI Correspondent from London: Three Indian nationals are under investigation in Italy for the murder of two Indian Sikh men outside a gurdwara last Friday, which appears to have been triggered by a feud over succession plans for the management of the gurdwara.

Two Indian nationals handed themselves in to the Bergamo Provincial Command of the Carabinieri (military police), accompanied by their lawyer, on the evening of April 18, the carabinieri told TOI.

Prosecutor Dr Fabio Magnolo questioned the two men, who were later released, but remain under investigation for complicity in the double homicide.

They are Sukhjinder Singh, known as “Kala”, and Yovanpreet Singh Dhillon, according to the newspaper “Corriere della Sera”.

They both live in Antegnate, where the main suspect lives. He has also been identified is also an Indian national, and is still at large, the carabinieri said.

Rajinder Singh (47), from Covo, and Gurmit Singh (48), from Agnadello, both Indian nationals from Punjab and both fathers of three, were gunned down before the gates of Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji in Covo, Bergamo, at 11.50pm local time on April 17.

Eyewitnesses say that the gunman, who worshipped at the gurdwara, bent down to touch the ground before pulling out his pistol and firing around a dozen bullets, first at Rajinder and then at his friend, Gurmit, killing both.

The two had been discussing plans for the Vaisakhi festival celebration — which was subsequently cancelled — when shot dead.

The gunman got back into a BMW and fled, accompanied by another vehicle with other Indian men in.

Rajinder, a farmer who owned a fruit and vegetable shop, was a former president of the gurdwara. He had stepped down at the end of last year and was in dispute with the rival faction in Antegnate over who should run the temple.

Rajinder leaves a widow, Pawandeep (40), and three sons aged 17,15 and 3. The elder sons said their father had been threatened with a gun near the gurdwara last Nov by the same man who allegedly killed him, and that he had filed a police complaint at the time.

Gurmit leaves two sons, aged 25 and 27, and a 26-year-old daughter who lives in India. He worked for a meat-processing company and had no position in the gurdwara.

The autopsies are scheduled for Thursday.