Global hunt for Hayer's killers
From Ajit Jain

TORONTO, Nov 21 — The murder of media personality Tara Singh Hayer, publisher of Vancouver's largest circulated Punjabi newspaper, has been given a new twist with police sources saying he was one of the people named in a hit list.

These people were reportedly targeted for elimination because of their stand on the controversy over use of tables and chairs in gurdwara 'langar' (meal) rooms.

Mr Hayer supported the use of furniture inside the 'langar' room while others strongly opposed this. The supreme temporal authority of the faith had issued an edict against the use of chairs and tables in 'langar' rooms.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police have launched an international manhunt for the killers of Mr Hayer, who was gunned down outside his home in suburban Surrey, near Vancouver, on November 18 when he was coming out of his car and going to sit on a wheel chair to which he had been confined since 1988 following an earlier attempt on his life.

Constable Grant Learned told India Abroad News Service that the police had no lead so far.

The incident got wide media coverage in leading Canadian dailies.

Hayer's son David is widely quoted in newspaper reports as tracing the origin of violence that took his father's life to Sikh fundamentalism.

"These (killers) are the same so-called fundamentalists who are involved in the Air-India bombing and the violence in the temples", he was quoted as saying at a Press conference.

Hayer's daughter-in-law Isabelle reportedly called the killers "worthless cowards" who, she said, "are responsible for not only killing an honourable Canadian, a journalist, father, grandfather and husband but also for branding the Indo-Canadian community as violent terrorists."
Canadian Revenue Minister Herb Dhaliwal has expressed shock over the murder. Mr Dhaliwal said: "As a publisher and journalist, Mr Hayer spoke out against injustice and violence and dedicated much of his career and life to the defence of freedom of speech."

Mr Hayer's death is "a tragedy for his family, the Sikh community, the city of Vancouver, and for all of Canada. Such acts of violence are never justified," the minister said.

The Sikh Professional Association of Canada said: "Canadians and the Sikh community, in cooperation with the Canadian authorities, must take effective action to pursue and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous crime".

British Columbia province Attorney-General Ujjal Singh Dosangh, who himself was assaulted with iron rods several years ago when he was a practising attorney, is quoted as saying he was deeply shaken by the killing.

The Vancouver Sun newspaper argued that "Hayer's death is an especially frightening event for people in the newspaper business."

"We believe he is the first Canadian journalist to be killed for his views. People at newspapers and magazines often publish material that angers some readers, and occasionally there are threats. Freedom of the Press means nothing if we don't stand up to such threats," the Sun said in an editorial titled "A man of courage pays for his principles".

The Vancouver Province newspaper, in an editorial titled. "He also had a dream", argued that "the public often perceives journalists as a hardened lot; quick to criticise, sensationalise. But like most news coverage, reporters harbour another side, visible when tragedy strikes."

Canada's national daily National Post devoted almost three full pages to reportage about Hayer's death. One of the stories was headlined "Death of a most radical moderate."

Mr Hayer was a recipient of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian award. Reports say he will be cremated on November 28. — IANS