Sikh community in shock: A hymn singer, tabla player, shopkeeper and homemaker killed in shelling

Indian Express

07-05-2025

The local Sikh community suffered a heavy loss as at least four of its members were killed and the wall of a gurdwara was damaged when Pakistan launched heavy shelling early Wednesday in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Eyewitnesses described the intensity of the bombardment as worse than during the 1999 Kargil War.
According to officials, Amreek Singh and Ranjit Singh—local shopkeepers—ex-army official Amarjeet Singh, and homemaker Ruby Kaur were killed instantly when a shell exploded near them, sending shockwaves through the community.
A nearby gurdwara, located just a short walk from Amreek Singh's shop, was also struck during the shelling. Its wall sustained considerable structural damage.
Ex-army official Amarjeet Singh (50), a devout Granthi who regularly performed Paath at the gurdwara, died in the shelling. He is survived by his wife, a son in Class 6, and a daughter.
Amarjeet Singh also played the tabla at the gurdwara, while another victim, Amreek Singh, was a raagi who sang hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib at another gurdwara in Poonch. Both were killed at different locations.
'It was such a fate that not only Amarjeet Singh but also Amreek Singh died in the shelling today. They were small-time preachers for the community,' said Narinder Singh from the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Poonch.
A man walks past a building damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Kashmir's Rajouri. (Reuters)
Amreek Singh (39) ran a small grocery shop below his house. He was the sole breadwinner of his family and is survived by two daughters and a son. He was with Ranjit Singh at Syndicate Chowk when a shell exploded in front of them. Both died on the spot. Amreek Singh had gone to open his shop.
Ranjit Singh, also a shopkeeper, was unmarried and known for his quiet, hardworking nature.
Ruby Kaur (32), a homemaker, was killed in Mankote. She had three children, the youngest just a year and a half old.
Ranjit Singh, Amreek Singh, and Ruby Kaur were cremated on Wednesday. Amarjeet Singh will be cremated on Thursday.
The local Sikh population in Poonch, estimated between 25,000 and 30,000, has been left shaken. 'We have never witnessed such heavy shelling in Poonch before. We saw the Kargil war, but civilian establishments largely remained untouched. We thought we had learned to live under shelling. Today, that illusion was broken,' said Narinder Singh.
The community is in mourning, calling for justice and an end to violence targeting civilians. The wall of Gurudwara Singh Sabha Poonch was damaged in the attack.
'The damage to the gurdwara is minor, but the shock is massive. Those who have residences in Jammu have already left. We saw heavy deployment of the army moving toward the border. It has created uncertainty in our minds. We don't know when we will be able to return,' said the gurdwara president.
Following the incident, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, condemned the shelling. 'The attack on Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and the loss of Sikh lives is not just an event—it is a blow to humanity,' he said.
Calling for diplomacy, Jathedar Gargaj urged both India and Pakistan to reduce tensions. 'Both governments must act with wisdom, not weapons,' he said.
'Since 1947, this conflict has caused suffering, including to Hindus and Sikhs near the border. How many more must pay for a conflict they did not create?' asked Gargaj. 'War always devours the innocent. Peace is not weakness—it is the strength we must summon.'
'This violence has taken lives from our community,' he added. 'Amreek Singh served through kirtan, Amarjeet Singh defended the borders, and Ranjit Singh was a tradesman. Their lives should not have ended like this.'
He called for prayers (ardas) for the departed souls and strength for their families. Addressing those in the border areas, Jathedar Gargaj urged, 'Support one another. Take shelter in Gurbani. Stay firm. Pray for peace.'
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, 'There has been news of a bomb attack by Pakistan on a gurdwara sahib located near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. In this attack, Raagi Singh Bhai Amreek Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Ranjit Singh, and Ruby Kaur have lost their lives. Carrying out such an attack at a place where prayers are offered for the well-being of all is extremely condemnable. Targeting innocent civilians is completely wrong. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. We pray to Guru Sahib to grant a place at His feet to the departed souls and to give the families the strength to bear this unbearable loss.'
Meanwhile, many families in Poonch have begun fleeing toward Jammu, seeking safety amid fears of more violence.