Two Indian nationals were shot dead outside a gurdwara in northern Italy in what investigators suspect may be a premeditated attack, according to local media reports. The incident took place late Friday night in Covo, located in Bergamo province, as the victims were exiting a warehouse being used as a place of worship for a Vaisakhi gathering.
Italian daily La Sicilia reported that the shooting occurred minutes before midnight in the square outside Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, situated in the town's industrial area.
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The deceased have been identified as Raginder Singh, 48, a resident of Covo, and Gurmit Singh, 48, who lived in nearby Agnadello.
As per the report, an assailant approached the two men and opened fire before fleeing the scene in a car.
Investigators recovered around ten shell casings from the spot, strengthening suspicions of a targeted killing.
Authorities have ruled out the possibility of a spontaneous altercation leading to the shooting. Instead, early findings point towards what officials described as a “coldly planned execution,” La Sicilia reported.
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A witness told reporters that the alleged shooter was “an Indian” who was known to frequent the same gurdwara.
The witness also claimed that a third individual was grazed by a bullet during the attack.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local Indian community, especially as it occurred on the eve of a planned Vaisakhi celebration scheduled for Saturday, which was to be attended by local authorities and community members.
Investigations are currently underway to identify and apprehend the accused, with police examining possible motives behind the killings.
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