Two Indian men were shot dead in Covo in Italy’s Bergamo province just as they were leaving a warehouse used as a place of worship during a gathering for the Vaisakhi festival, local media reported on Sunday.
The incident took place on Friday, a few minutes before midnight, in the square outside the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji in the town’s industrial area, according to La Sicilia newspaper.
The deceased were identified as 48-year-old Raginder Singh, a resident of Covo, and 48-year-old Gurmit Singh from Agnadello.
According to reports, the assailant approached the two men, opened fire, and fled the scene in a car. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a “coldly planned execution,” with initial findings suggesting the attack was not the result of a spontaneous altercation.
Around ten shell casings were recovered from the site as investigators continued probing the incident.
A witness was quoted as saying that the shooter was “an Indian” who also frequented the gurdwara. The same witness claimed that a third person was also grazed by bullets, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Police are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attack. An official Vaisakhi celebration was scheduled to take place nearby on Saturday with the participation of local institutions.
