Former Gurudwara President Shot Dead Outside Italian Shrine Amid Committee Dispute

The tragedy appears rooted in a deep-seated rivalry regarding the Gurudwara Sahib’s administrative committee. Rajinder Singh, who had served as the Gurudwara president multiple times in the past, was a dedicated member of the congregation. His father revealed that the current president of the Gurudwara was a close associate of Rajinder Singh, a development that the opposing faction reportedly found intolerable. Despite his father’s repeated warnings to distance himself from committee politics, Rajinder Singh remained committed to his years of service at the shrine.

The fatal incident unfolded during preparations for the annual Baisakhi celebrations, specifically for the scheduled Nagar Kirtan. Rajinder Singh had taken responsibility for the ‘Prasad’ intended for distribution among the Sangat during the procession. He was carrying the offerings out of the Gurudwara Sahib when the assailants opened fire. Both Rajinder Singh and his companion, Devi, sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the ambush.

While Rajinder Singh’s entire immediate family resides in Italy, his elderly father in Dera Baba Nanak is now grappling with the sudden loss. The grieving family in India has issued an urgent appeal to the government for visa assistance, seeking to travel to Italy to perform the final rites of the deceased. This violent confrontation has cast a somber shadow over the religious festivities, highlighting the lethal consequences of administrative friction within the community overseas.