California: Police arrest 17 Sikhs for involvement in mass shootings including Gurudwaras

During the investigation, which began in February 2023, law enforcement was able to prevent two additional shootings from occurring

PGurus Newsdesk

April 18, 2023

During the investigation, which began in February 2023, law enforcement was able to prevent two additional shootings from occurring

California Gurdwara shootings: 17 men arrested; AK-47, machine gun seized

California Police have arrested 17 Sikh men from rival criminal syndicates for their alleged involvement in mass shootings across Northern California, including Sikh Gurudwaras in Stockton and Sacramento between 2022 and 2023.

The joint law enforcement effort culminated on Monday in a large-scale operation with agents executing search warrants at 20 locations, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Yuba City Police Chief Brian Baker, and Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupre announced.

In a joint law enforcement operation, 41 firearms were seized from suspects responsible for numerous violent crimes and shootings, including five attempted murders, in Sutter, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Yolo, and Merced counties.

Jennifer Dupre said, “Two syndicates, mostly members of the local Sikh community, were responsible for multiple shootings where 11 people were shot, including five people at a Sikh temple in Stockton in August 2022 and two at a Sikh Gurudwara in Sacramento on March 23, 2023.”

According to ABC News, Karandeep Singh, Pardeep Singh, Pavittar Singh, Husandeep Singh, Sahajpreet Singh, Harkirat Singh, Tirath Ram, Dharamvir Singh, Jobanjit Singh, Gurvinder Singh, Nitish Kaushal, Gurminder Singh Kang, Devender Singh, Karambir Gill, Rajeev Ranjan, Jobanpreet Singh, and Singh Dhesi, were arrested for a felony.

Police are yet to arrest Amandeep Singh, Harmandeep Singh, Gursharn Singh, Grucharan Singh, and Jaskaran Singh, Dupre told ABC News, adding that the feud among groups “was fueled by intense personal connections“.

“No family should ever have to worry about drive-by shootings or other forms of gun violence in the neighbourhoods where their children live and play. As a result of this joint law enforcement effort, we’re taking guns off the street and putting suspected gang members and their associates behind bars,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a press release.

During the investigation, which began in February 2023, law enforcement was able to prevent two additional shootings from occurring.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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