North American Punjabi Association seeks stronger action after killing of Sikh man in New York

Chandigarh: The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) on Sunday expressed grief and concern over the killing of 28-year-old Gurdeep Singh, a Sikh immigrant from Punjab's Kapurthala district, in New York City.

Singh, who moved to the US more than a decade ago in search of a better future, was shot dead while making a pizza delivery, NAPA said.

NAPA executive director Satnam Singh Chahal said the incident should not be treated as an isolated case.


"Every time a young Punjabi or Sikh person is killed, a family is destroyed. We cannot allow repeated violence to become something the community simply learns to live with," Chahal said.

NAPA urged the investigators to establish the exact motive behind the killing and cautioned against drawing conclusions before the probe is over.

It said the incident reflected wider concerns of threats, extortion and violence faced by members of the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora in the US.

NAPA referred to reported extortion cases in California and a federal crackdown launched in July against transnational organised crime.

It called for better coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to tackle criminal networks operating across state and international borders.

"The Sikh and Punjabi diaspora deserves the protection every American deserves," NAPA said.

"Gurdeep Singh should not become just another name added to a growing list of victims. Enough is enough," Chahal said.