When a young person dies on foreign soil, it is not only he who dies; his entire family back home is devastated.
Dreams of going abroad, debts worth lakhs and crores, the search for a better future away from family and years of waiting, but what is left behind in the end? A devastated family, crying and wailing, waiting for the dead body. This is not the story of just one family; this is the story of every household whose sons leave their own country and go to foreign lands but never return.
A similar case has come to light involving 28-year-old Gurdeep Singh, a resident of Jabbowal village in Kapurthala, who was shot dead in New York, America. Following this tragic incident, his family in Punjab is in mourning.
Death Came Before the Beginning of a New Life
Around 10 years ago, Gurdeep Singh went to America in search of a better future. He took the donkey route to reach America, a route generally used to illegally reach a developed country through other countries. After reaching America, Gurdeep had to struggle a lot. He was working as a delivery partner in New York and also had an American work permit. He had not returned home for the past nine years. Gurdeep Singh was not yet married.
Attackers Put Him to Death
According to reports, Gurdeep Singh was going to work delivering pizza on Richmond Street in New York. During this time, armed attackers shot him. He died on the spot after being hit by the bullet. The incident is reported to have taken place on August 22. According to media reports, it is suspected that Gurdeep Singh was shot during an attempted robbery. However, the actual motive behind the incident will become clear only after the investigation is completed. More information in the case is awaited. The investigation is ongoing, and the attacker has not yet been identified.
Family Got Lakhs in Debt, Not Their Son
According to information, Gurdeep Singh’s father had taken a loan of around Rs 30 lakh to send his son abroad. His family earns its livelihood by doing DJ work in the village. The family had full hope that their son would work day and night abroad, repay the debt, and they too would be able to live a good life. But this incident turned the family’s hopes into mourning in a single blow.
Concern for the Safety of Punjabi and Sikh Communities
Following this incident, the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) expressed deep sorrow and concern over the safety of Punjabi and Sikh communities living in America. NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said that this murder cannot be dismissed as an isolated incident. Chahal said that whenever a young Punjabi or Sikh is murdered, it does not destroy just one individual but an entire family. The community cannot live with this recurring violence. The organisation said that members of the Indian and Punjabi communities in the United States are continuously facing threats, extortion and violence. NAPA has demanded that the police determine the actual motive behind the murder and conduct an impartial investigation. The organisation also urged that no conclusion should be drawn before the investigation is completed. American authorities have also been asked to take every possible step to arrest the culprit quickly and give him the strictest possible punishment.
Family Longs While Waiting for Son’s Dead Body
Gurdeep Singh’s family is appealing to the Punjab government and the Central government to bring their son’s dead body back as soon as possible. The family has sought support in this hour of grief so that Gurdeep Singh’s last rites can be performed in his native village.
Leave a Comment