Two Indian men were shot dead outside a gurdwara in northern Italy, in what investigators increasingly suspect was a targeted killing rather than a spontaneous act of violence.
Attack outside gurdwara
The incident took place late Friday (April 17), minutes before midnight in the square outside the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji in Covo, a town in Bergamo province, as worshippers gathered ahead of Vaisakhi celebrations.
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According to the La Sicilia newspaper, the victims had just stepped out of a warehouse used as a place of worship when the gunman struck.
The deceased were identified as Raginder Singh, 48, a Covo resident, and Gurmit Singh, also 48, from nearby Agnadello. Gurmit Singh is survived by his wife and two children.
Evidence points to planned killing
The attacker reportedly approached the men, opened fire, and fled in a car. Around 10 shell casings were recovered from the scene, suggesting an intense burst of gunfire, which has led the investigators to suspect the likelihood of what has been described as a “coldly planned execution.”
Early findings have ruled out the possibility of a sudden altercation escalating into violence.
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A witness told reporters the shooter was “an Indian” who also frequented the gurdwara. The witness identified the suspect as “an Indian man from Antegnate.” The same testimony indicated that a third person may have been grazed by bullets during the attack.
Probe into motive and community impact
The scale and precision of the shooting have reportedly led investigators from the Carabinieri’s Bergamo unit to explore whether the killings were linked to personal disputes or tensions within the local Sikh community. If confirmed, that would point away from a random act and toward a settling of scores.
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The incident has shaken the local community, which officials describe as well-integrated and largely trouble-free. “Integrated” and peaceful, present for fifteen years without ever causing public order issues, was how Covo mayor Andrea Cappelletti characterised the Sikh population.
Vaisakhi eve violence, probe continues
The violence unfolded on the eve of Vaisakhi, one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar, marking the birth of the Khalsa. An official celebration involving local institutions had been scheduled nearby the following day.
Authorities have transferred the bodies to Pavia for autopsy and are reviewing surveillance footage while questioning witnesses. However, the motive behind the murder remains unclear.
(With agency inputs)
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