Canadian Sikh killed in brawl over blaring music with local youths in Punjab

Chandigarh: A Canadian permanent resident card holder Pardeep Singh Nihang was killed in a brawl over blaring music on Tuesday at Anandpur Sahib where he had gone to participate in the annual ‘Hola Mohala’ celebrations.

According to local journalist Satish Jagota, Pardeep objected to a group of youths travelling on a tractor trolley with high decibel music played by a DJ fixed on the tractor. Accompanied by some like-minded baptised Sikh youths, Pardeep was stopping such vehicles and motorbikes as these songs “were not appropriate in the vicinity of a historical Gurudwara.”

Niranjan Singh and those riding in the tractor trolley alighted and confronted Pardeep and a fight broke out.  Pardeep was hit by a sharp-edged weapon (Kirch). Niranjan, too, was grievously injured by a customised lathi traditionally carried by Nihang Singhs.

An injured Pardeep was rushed to a hospital by the police where he was declared brought dead. Niranjan, who received a head injury inflicted by Pardeep Singh was referred to the PGI Chandigarh.

SSP Vivek Soni told media persons that a tattoo artist Pardeep settled in Canada for the last over 5 years and was a permanent resident of that country. He hailed from a village in the Gurdaspur district, while Niranjan Singh was a resident of a village in Nurpur Bedi tehsil of the Ropar district. Pardeep had come to India in February to attend the Hola Mohalla festival.

SSP said an FIR has been registered for the murder of Pardeep Singh against Niranjan Singh and some other unidentified youths.