Staffer shot dead inside Uttarakhand gurdwara, special probe team formed

The kar seva pramukh at Uttarakhand's Nanakmatta Gurdwara was shot dead by two masked men early on Thursday. The victim was identified as Baba Tarsem Singh, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the incident, which happened in Udham Singh Nagar district of the state.

The incident was confirmed by Uttarakhand Director General of Police, who said the information about the murder was received at 7 am today.

"We received information around 7 am today that between 6.15 and 6.30 am, two masked assailants entered Nanakmatta Gurdwara and shot kar seva pramukh, Baba Tarsem Singh," Uttarakhand DGP Abhinav Kumar said.

"He was rushed to the hospital in Khatima, but I received inputs that he succumbed to his injuries," he said.

"Senior officials have reached the spot. For investigations, the Police Headquarters has formed an SIT. A Special Task Force (STF) has been told to keep this as their top priority and probe all angles minutely."

Commenting on whether the assailants were identified, the DGP said, "We have to not only identify the assailants but also the conspiracy behind this murder, if any. We have also contacted the central agencies to share useful inputs related to this matter with us."

KAR SEVA PRAMUKH HAD CLAIMED HIS LIFE WAS UNDER THREAT

In a Facebook post, Baba Tarsem Singh, on February 16, had alleged his life was under threat. He also alleged the Facebook page of the gurdwara committee levelled serious accusations against him and misled the organisation.

Singh, through his post, also appealed that any complaints against him should be discussed in person, rather than defaming him on social media.

He also said the supporters of the committee posed a threat to his life and that they should be held responsible if anything happened to him.