Indian men shot in Italy: A pall of gloom descended on the Indian community in Italy’s Covo late Friday night, as two Indian-origin men were gunned down by an unidentified assailant shortly after a Vaisakhi gathering.
Local reports suggest the victims were attacked moments after they exited a warehouse, which had been used as a temporary place of worship during the Punjabi festival. The sudden burst of violence sent a wave of fear and panic across the locality and has left residents stunned, while authorities are scrambling for the reason that triggered the attack.
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Representative image[/caption]
Identities of the victims
The two men who fell prey to the incident have been identified as Raginder Singh (48), a resident of Covo, and Gurmit Singh (48), who lived in nearby Agnadello. Both of them are said to have attended the Vaisakhi festivities and were reportedly leaving from the premises when they were targeted. The close-knit Indian Community is in shock after the incident, and grieving families as well as friends are yet to come to terms with the tragedy.
Indian men shot in Italy: Incident unfolds near Gurdwara Mata Sahib
According to reports, the shooting took place shortly before midnight at a square near the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, situated in an industrial part of the town. Eyewitnesses said that the assailant approached the victims and fired shots at them at close range, only to speed away from the spot soon after. The police rushed to the spot, and recovered as many as ten bullet casings from the scene, which hints towards a targeted and sustained assault rather than a random act of violence.
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Men who were shot dead[/caption]
Italian authorities carried out a preliminary probe, which suggests a pre-planned attack. They are examining claims from a witness who suggested the gunman may have been known within the local community, and had visited the Gurdwara earlier too.
Fear overshadows festivities
In the aftermath of the incident, fear has cast a shadow over Vaisakhi celebrations planned for the following day, in which local officials were also expected to show up. Meanwhile, the community leaders have appealed to the people to maintain composure, and urged them to cooperate properly with the ongoing probe.
As per police, they are amassing forensic evidence and verifying statements from the witnesses to identify and apprehend the suspect.
Also read: Today’s Global Flashpoint