Indian-origin Sikh leader arrested for plotting to burn down prominent Gurdwara in California

A 60yearold Indianorigin Sikh man has been arrested in the United States for allegedly attempting to hire people to shoot multiple people and burn down a prominent Gurdwara in California according to media reportsRajvir Raj Singh Gill a former Bakersfield City Council candidate was arrested on March 4 for allegedly targeting one of Bakersfields largest Sikh places of worship Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji Khalsa Darbar and burning down the property bakersfieldcom portal reportedGill was arrested in connection with six counts of criminal threats after officers executed a search warrant at his residence the report saidThe Bakersfield Police Department said in addition to offering someone money in exchange for burning down the gurdwara Gill tried to pay people to shoot others who he had an ongoing dispute with 23abccom portal reportedGill had attempted to run for City Council Ward 7 against Manpreet Kaur in 2022 Kaur won the election and was the first Sikh Punjabi woman elected to the Bakersfield City Council the report addedKaur who won the seat for Ward 7 issued the following statement I am aware of the alleged allegations I am confident the Bakersfield Police department is working diligently to keep our community safe and will address the matter accordingly Hearing this news is distressing and frightening This is one of our most highly attended Sikh temples locally To hear of an alleged attempt to destroy a place of worship is heartbreaking and unfathomableAlso readMumbai Man minor girl die by jumping off hilltop after families opposed their marriageHe hired the people Those people whoever he hired came and told us and they made a report to the police So the police called us and they got our information and everything and asked questions and we told them whats going on and thats when everything happened said Amrik Singh Athwal a temple board memberA Bakersfield Police Department spokesman declined Tuesday to address what may have prompted Gill to take the actions he is accused of and he would not elaborate on the caseA temple elder said Tuesday that Gill has in recent months shown up at the property disrupting prayers and threatening members of the congregation and carrying a gun before being arrested at one point There are no records of his arrest prior to SaturdayThe elder Sukhwinder Singh Ranghi attributed the repeated confrontations to a dispute over more than USD 800000 contributed by members of the congregation that was supposed to reimburse a corporate entity set up to buy the temple out of foreclosure in July 2020Its the greed that most likely got to him Ranghi was quoted as saying by bakersfieldcomRanghi said the temple learned Gill offered USD 10000 to two Hispanic men to kill certain leaders of the congregation who are involved in the court cases including Ranghi He said Gill drove the men around the city pointing out the homes of the temple leaders he wanted to be killed This information came to temple leadership from an associate of the intended hitmenWith more than 500 members Shaheed is one of Bakersfields bestattended Sikh temples It hosts an annual celebration in late October that draws thousandsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever