M A I N   N E W S

Taxi driver shot in California
Fiancee commits suicide as body is brought to Amritsar
Pawan Kumar

Dabaurji (Amritsar), July 7
“What have I got by sending my son abroad. I have lost him forever”, said the inconsolable Mrs Kashmir Kaur, mother of 24-year-old Gurpreet Singh, a taxi driver who was shot dead by an American of African origin in California on July 3.

He was cremated at Sultanwind, village, near here, today.

Gurpreet Singh had gone to America about five years ago in search of greener pastures.

His fiancee, Amandeep Kaur (22), a resident of Darshan Avenue (in Dabourji), unable to bear the shock took the extreme step and committed suicide one day after the murder.

There were heart-rending scenes in the house of Gurpreet when his body was brought here at 3 pm today. His body was brought from New Delhi, where it had arrived last night from California, by his father and some relatives. He is survived by his parents, a younger brother and a sister.

The incident has put a big question mark over the security of Punjabis abroad. The incident had made headlines in newspapers in America, said Mr Rashpal Singh, cousin of the deceased while talking to The Tribune.

He said the accused American was travelling in Gurpreet’s cab. He refused to give the fare. An altercation followed. In a fit of anger the accused shot Gurpreet dead.

The family members of Gurpreet urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the External Affairs Ministry to ensure the security of NRI Punjabis there (America) and to arrest the accused person as soon as possible.

Amandeep Kaur, before taking the extreme step, sent the family members to the gurdwara. When alone in the house she took out the licensed pistol of her father and shot herself in the temple.

She left a suicide note in which she said she was taking this extreme step with the hope of meeting Gurpreet in the ‘next birth’.

It is learnt that her engagement was done with the photograph of Gurpreet and both mostly talked on the telephone.

Rashpal Singh said the Indian government must take a firm stand with the USA for the safety of Sikh NRIs there, as Sikhs have mostly become the target of hate crime after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.