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Wisconsin: Sikh man shot dead during armed robbery

August 17, 2012 10:04 IST

An elderly Sikh man was shot in Milwaukee on Wednesday night while he was locking the doors of his grocery store. Incidentally, the victim was also a member of the gurudwara in Oak Creek where a white supremacist had shot dead six people on August 5.

According to media reports, Dalbir Singh, 56, was fatally shot around 9 pm during what appears to be an attempted armed robbery. Singh was a member of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.

The police are investigating the fatal shooting but have not taken any suspects into custody.

According to FOX6 News, Jatinder Singh, the owner of the Harmony Food Store and Singh's nephew, said the man held a gun to his uncle's head and made demands.

"He said 'go in, go inside.' I said 'okay,' Jatinder Singh said.

Jatinder Singh and his uncle followed the man's orders. Once they were inside the store, Jatinder Singh tried to push the man out and lock the door.

"Then, he shot right away. I heard the pop," Jatinder Singh said.

"This is terrible. It is very surprising that some anti-social elements -- by attacking theĀ  Sikh community -- are trying to tell them that there is no place in the United Stated for the Sikh community," said community activist Satnam Singh Chahal.

Ritu Jha