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Richmond killings
leave community shocked, police still groping for motive
Zafarzang Singh
 RICHMOND: The new
year began on a rather sad note with the blind killings of two Sikh
brothers – Ravinder Singh and Paramjit Singh Kalsi – leaving the
Sikh community in a state of shock. The the police are still groping
in the dark about the motive of the murders. Theirs was the
forty-sixth murder in the course of a year in a town which is
reeling under homicides of all shades.
Through sheer dint
of hard work and toil, the two brothers were engaged in the sale of
houses and running of a restaurant catering Indian food.
Over the last few
years, the East Bay area has seen a steep rise in hate crimes
against Sikhs, ranging from murders to attacks on Gurdwaras.
Whether this one was a hate crime of the kind which the US has
witnessed or if it is a contract killing is a matter of conjecture
at the present moment. While SALDEF, Sikh Coalition and other
organizations are engaged in undoing the stereotype image of the
Sikhs, it comes as a surprise that crime continues to chase the
Sikhs in one form or the other.
The friend of the
duo, Gurman Bal has described them as “hardworking and spiritual.”
The local councilor of Richmond City, who knew the family, said they
were kind, friendly, smiling and hardworking. Like most American
Sikhs, he too cannot fathom the reason for this senseless murder.
It is disturbing that this city has a record worse than the third
world as stated by a former president of a local Gurdwara.
The family of
Ravinder Singh in Patiala is worried about their sudden end. Their
American dream is over. They are now waiting for the bodies of the
brothers hoping that they will come without the red tape making that
an impossible task.
Two customers of the
India Sahib restaurant, Woujie and Michael from Pinole sum up the
personality of the two brothers in their online tribute on a
website. They say, “Your gentleness and hospitality was unusual in a
mean and hurried world. We are so saddened by your untimely
passing.”
Wendy writing a
condolence says that Pammi and Ravi so gracious and kind. “I got to
know them as a customer over their 5 years with the restaurant. When
my friend was dying from stomach cancer they let her come eat with
me for free. They always had warm smiles. We talked, joked, laughed.
I'm so sorry they are gone, I'll miss them!” said a long time
friendly customer.
Rosemary and Pat
McKean reminiscing Paramjit Singh said that “Our world was better
with you in it. You are missed.”
Across the
continent, taxi driver Amarjit Singh was attacked in a suburb of New
York. Though the motive there has been said to be robbery, the
victim with a wife and three children seeks assistance and relief
from the community.
Murderous attacks
over the years have sent a wave of anger and despair in Punjab among
the elderly; for the young there is still hope of El Dorado.
(Zafarzang Singh may
be contacted at
zafarzang@gmail.com)
Memorial Service on Thursday
Friends of the
killed duo are organizing a memorial service at Sunset View Cemetery
(located at the corner of Colusa and Fairmount Avenue
El Cerrito)
on
Thursday, January 3,
2008 from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm. A Ravi and Pammi Kalsi Memorial Fund
has also been started at Wells Fargo Bank with Account number
7294234344.
2 January 2008
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