Wisconsin shooting: Gloom over Punjab's big fat US wedding

CHANDIGARH: Preparations were on in full swing for the wedding of Punjab rural development and panchayat minister Surjit Singh Rakhra's niece in Wisconsin this weekend.

Within hours, however, gloom descended as Rakhra's 65-year-old brother-in-law, Satwant Kaleka, was riddled with bullets in Sunday's shootout at a suburban Sikh gurdwara. "It was an attack on humanity," said Rakhra to TOI.

The marriage on August 11, which was to be attended by many of his Cabinet colleagues including Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, has not been called off yet. However, when it does, it will be a low key affair. Rakhra's niece, Tina, was to wed an American engineer in Wisconsin, an event which was drawing powerful Akali leaders as well as businessmen.

"My brother-in-law was an affable and humble person. He migrated to the United States with just Rs 20,000 in his pocket," said Rakhra, adding that Kaleka even co-founded the gurdwara and oversaw its services.

There are nearly 3,200 Sikh families in Wisconsin's Milwaukee area. Rakhra's brother Darshan Singh Dhaliwal was the youngest Indian American billionaire in 2003, owning more than 100 gas stations across the US.

"Sikhism is a peaceful religion. We are among the most tolerant people in the world. Yet, we have suffered for generations," bemoaned Rakhra.

Kaleka's son, Amardeep, was inconsolable. "He was shot twice and was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He even tried to resist the shooter. We are shattered," he said, adding that Kaleka had worked hard since his arrival in the US in 1982 to make the business flourish. "He couldn't even talk in English during those days but always remained a devout and hardworking Sikh," said Amardeep.

His mother, who too was inside the gurdwara at the time of the attack, managed to hide inside the community hall and dodge the bullets.

Over the past few years, Satwant became one of the most successful businessmen owning gas stations and other properties in the area.

Kaleka's family members were in shock. "Satwant never feared anything and was always ready to help others. The family's reputation earned them a lot of respect," said Kaleka's eldest brother Amarjit.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/33039/f/555218/p/1/s/49249a6d/l/0Ltimesofindia0Bindiatimes0N0Cindia0CWisconsin0Eshooting0EGloom0Eover0EPunjabs0Ebig0Efat0EUS0Ewedding0Carticleshow0C153814390Bcms/story01.htm

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