Report Links Italy Shootings to Diaspora Divisions and Extremist Influence
ROME — The execution-style killing of two Sikh men in northern Italy has highlighted internal divisions, financial disputes, and political tensions within parts of the Indian diaspora in Europe, according to a media report.
The incident occurred last week in the Covo area of Bergamo province, where two Indian nationals from Punjab — Rajinder Singh, 47, and Gurmit Singh, 48 — were shot dead outside a Sikh cultural center on the eve of Baisakhi, one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar.
A report by Italian news outlet Decode39 said the attack appeared highly coordinated, with around a dozen shots fired at close range in front of witnesses and captured on surveillance cameras.
Initial findings suggest the suspected gunman, also an Indian national based in nearby Antegnate, carried out the attack with at least three accomplices.
The killings prompted the cancellation of a planned Baisakhi procession that was expected to draw about 2,000 worshippers to the area.
Rajinder Singh, a former president of a Sikh association in Italy, had reportedly been involved in disputes with a rival group based in Antegnate. Tensions between the groups had escalated in recent months, including formal complaints, with control of the religious center and its leadership at stake.
The report said the conflict may extend beyond local rivalries, pointing to broader political and identity-related divisions within segments of the diaspora. Claims circulating on social media from pro-Khalistan groups alleged links between the victim and disputes during Khalsa Day celebrations, though those assertions remain unverified.
“While unverified, such claims reflect broader political and identity fractures present within segments of the Sikh diaspora,” the report noted.
Beyond the immediate criminal investigation, the case has raised concerns about cohesion and security within Indian diaspora communities in Italy and elsewhere in Europe. Incidents of intra-community violence — often tied to leadership struggles, local influence, or personal rivalries — have become more visible in recent years.
The report added that the Sikh community in Italy, long seen as well-integrated and active in sectors such as agriculture and logistics, is increasingly affected by transnational political dynamics. Debates linked to Punjab, including those surrounding Khalistan, have spilled into diaspora networks, contributing to polarization.
Those tensions have also appeared in public spaces. In Milan, a demonstration held the day after the killings included small groups displaying pro-Khalistan messages, underscoring how such issues are moving beyond community settings. (Source: IANS)
