Sikhs Involved in Increasing Gang Violence in Wash and Vancouver

July 22, 2004

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4162-2004Jul21.html?referrer%3Demailarticle

On July 22, 2004 The Washington Post reported, "In the past 13 years, police have reported 76 young men killed in the Vancouver area in gang-related violence. The authorities blame drug deals gone bad and local turf wars, mostly involving well-to-do young people of Indian descent... 'The community is quite upset and worried about this violence and killing,' said Balwant Singh Gill, president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, one of the largest Sikh temples in North America, with 37,000 members... Amar Randhawa, 28, co-founder of UNITED, the Unified Network of Indo-Canadians for Togetherness and Education Through Discussion, said 'Their background is Punjab Sikhs, ranging in age from 18 to 35'... Immigrant community leaders in Vancouver complain of police inaction. Police say they have tried, but have been unable to develop leads that would stop the bloodshed."