4 Sikhs killed in US shootout; rights groups see hate crime

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It’s shocking, says Capt

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh expressed shock at the incident. “Shocked by the mass shooting incident that took the lives of 8 people, including 4 Sikhs. Praying for strength to their families in this hour of grief,” Capt Amarinder said in a tweet.

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Embassy expresses grief

The Indian Embassy in the US has conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. “We are closely monitoring the situation and remain ready to provide all possible assistance,” it said. India’s Consul General in Chicago Amit Kumar spoke to the Mayor of Indianapolis Joe Hogsett, who assured full support.

Washington, April 17

Four Sikhs, including three women, were among eight people killed in a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in the US state of Indiana.

They were identified as Amarjeet Johal (66), Jaswinder Kaur (64), Amarjit Sekhon (48), Jaswinder Singh (68), Karli Smith, Alexander Matt, Samaria Blackwell and John White.

The gunman was identified as 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole, a former employee. He allegedly died by suicide after the shooting on Thursday night. He was last employed by FedEx in 2020.

Hole was interviewed by FBI agents last year after his mother called the police to say that her son might commit “suicide by cop”, the bureau said on Friday.

This is the worst Sikh massacre in the US after the Oak Creek Gurdwara mass shooting in Wisconsin on August 5, 2012, where seven members of the community were killed.

About 90 per cent of the workers at this delivery service facility are said to be Indian-Americans, mostly from the Sikh community.

Demanding a probe, New York-based Sikh Coalition, a civil rights advocacy group, said it could be an act of racial or ethnic hatred.

Community leader Gurinder Singh Khalsa said: “This should be a wake-up call for the entire country, in particular, the Sikhs and Asian Americans, against whom there has been a sudden spurt in hate crimes.”

Not ruling out the possibility of a hate crime, Khalsa said community leaders are meeting on Saturday to demand a probe into the incident.

US President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have expressed condolences over the tragic killings.

Biden issued a proclamation in honour of the deceased. He ordered that the national flag be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all federal buildings. PTI