'We're all shattered': Loved ones, community hold vigil for slain Sikh family in US
India Today
Hundreds gathered in the US city of Merced to hold a vigil for an Indian-origin Sikh family, including an eight-month-old baby, who was kidnapped and then killed by a former employee.
Hundreds of people in the US city of Merced prayed with candles in their hands and tears in their eyes during a sunset vigil for the grieving Indian-origin Sikh family, including an eight-month-old baby, who was kidnapped and then killed by a former employee.
Bodies of 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri and the baby's uncle, 39-year-old Amandeep Singh were found on Wednesday evening in an orchard after they were kidnapped on Monday.
The family, originally from Harsi Pind in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was kidnapped at a business in Merced County, California.
READ | Kidnapped Sikh family, including 8-month-old baby, found dead in California, cops say
The city of Merced has organised a candlelight vigil for the family every night at 7 pm from October 6 to October 9.
The crowd that gathered in the stately downtown Bob Hart Square on Thursday came from all backgrounds — young, old, Latino, Black, Sikh, white, wealthy, low income and stood in solidarity with the Singh and Kaur families at the vigil. They chanted prayers in Punjabi, Spanish and English, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
There have been lives that have been taken, Lord, innocent lives, and we don’t understand,” Christian Life Center Pastor Ceasar Johnson boomed to the crowd as he wept openly. “Comfort us, Lord,” the report said.
