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Five Injured In New Jersey Gurdwara Altercation

By PAUL LEAKAN
In an April 24 piece published in The Courier-Post, Tom Lounsberry added, "Two of the injured, K. [Karj] Singh Sandhu, 40, of Yardley, Pa., and Alamjit Singh Gill, 39, of the first block of Chambord Lane, Voorhees, were arrested after being released from the hospital. They were charged with aggravated assault and sent to the Burlington County Jail on $10,000 full cash bail each. Gill was later released on bail. The other injured were identified as Sukhjinder Singh Malhi, no age available, of Yardley; Sukhvia Badesha, no age available, of the first block of Canter Drive, and Pal Singh, no age available, of the first block of Fall Drive, both in Burlington Township. Gill, who says he was a founding member of the temple, said the fight started after a religious ceremony that was held between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m." The gurdwara's Web site lists Alamjit Singh Gill and Pal Singh as trustees.

Burlington County Times, Springfield, N.J., Apr. 23, 2005


Photo: Paramjitinder Singh Dhillon, president of the executive committee at Khalsa Darbar of South Jersey, Inc., Burlington, New Jersey

Five people were injured during a disturbance that broke out last night at a Sikh house of worship on Old York Road, according to police Chief Kenneth Gerber.

At least two of the victims were stabbed, Gerber said.

All of the injured were taken to area hospitals for treatment, but none of the injuries appeared life threatening, Gerber said. One of the injured may have been a woman, he said.

Gerber said police responded to reports of a fight at Gurdwara Sahib temple at about 8:15 p.m. 'Upon arrival, there was a major disturbance that came out all the way into the parking lot,' Gerber said.

He said the fight apparently began during a well-attended meeting at the temple and may have resulted from a dispute involving members 'who were no longer in good standing.'

Gerber said there had been no arrests as of about 10:30 p.m., but added several people had been questioned and several weapons had been confiscated. He said the New Jersey State Police Major Crimes Unit was investigating.

The Sikh religion originated about 500 years ago in northern India. The temple is operated by Khalsa Darbar of South Jersey, Inc. It opened in December 2002 with about 150 members.