Sikh Caretaker Killed At Scene Of Earlier Violence Moderates, Fundamentalists Have Clashed At B.C. Temple

Police are investigating the suspicious death of the caretaker of a Sikh temple here where violence among worshippers broke out last year.

Nirmal Singh Gill, who was in his mid-50s, was found crawling around the parking lot of the Guru Nanak temple early Sunday morning by police who were called to the scene, said Sgt. Bill Sharp of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“We are treating it as foul play,” Sharp said.

Gill was unable to speak to police and was taken to a hospital, where he died that afternoon.

“The serious-crimes section has been called in,” Sharp said. “There was an indication of trauma to the head.”

Balwant Singh Gill, the temple president, said Nirmal Gill was well-known as a supporter of the moderate slate which won temple elections last fall.

“He was one of our supporters. He was one of the most trustworthy men,” Balwant Gill said. “He was employed by the temple. We hired him to do security for us.”

Balwant Gill said he was worried the death could be linked to fundamentalist opponents of his slate who used violence a year ago to forcibly remove tables and chairs from the temple during a bloody altercation. A number of people were injured.

Court cases against several of the accused in last year’s violence are due to begin later this month.

Last December, someone shot a bullet through the entrance to Balwant Gill’s suburban Surrey home. A month later, he and two others were injured when fundamentalists attacked them at the temple.

Balwant Gill said Nirmal Gill had been living in a senior’s complex beside the temple and would open the temple daily at 3:30 a.m. for early morning worshippers.