Charles Writes To Family Of Murdered Nri

[Azaad]

Prince Charles has sent a personal message of condolence to the family of a 63-year-old Sikh shopkeeper who was brutally murdered by some youths for free cigarettes and alcohol. “This country can ill-afford to lose such special people”, Charles said in his message to the family of Gurmail Singh Hayre, who migrated to Britain in 1962 from Nakodar in Punjab.

Two young Asian men — Muawaz Khalid, 20, and Nabeel Shafi, 18 — have been found guilty of murder and face several years in jail when they are formally sentenced next month. Gurmail, a father of three and grandfather of five, settled in the West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield and worked for the local Hepworth Iron Company for 20 years until he was made redundant a few years ago.

Gurmail subsequently used his life savings to open a small corner shop where he was bludgeoned to death when Khalid and Shafi grabbed wine bottles from the shelves and repeatedly hit him on the head. They then ran out of the shop after stealing £80 (Rs 5,600), some cigarette packets, sweets and a few bottles of alcohol. A third member of the gang, Umare Aslam, 20, has been convicted of robbery and a fourth, Shoaib Khan, 18, has admitted assisting an offender.

The case has attracted nation-wide attention because of Gurmail’s popularity. His funeral earlier this year at the Huddersfield gurdwara attracted a record 1,000 mourners who came from all communities and religions, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians.

[Singh559]

Waheguru.