(Funeral services for Narinder Kaur Kalsi, 67, will be held on Sunday, July 27 at 2 p.m. at Delta`s Five Rivers Funeral Home and bhog will take place at 3:30 p.m. at Surrey`s Brookside Sikh Temple at 8365 140th Street, a gurdwara spokesperson told The VOICE on Wednesday. For more information, contact her son Jim Kalsi at 604-290-1132.)
FORMER president of Surrey’s Brookside Sikh Temple Baldev Singh Kalsi, 66, now faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with his wife Narinder’s death, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced Monday.
“Sadly, on July 20 (Sunday) just before 4:30 p.m., Narinder Kaur Kalsi, with her family by her side, was taken off life support and pronounced deceased,” said IHIT Staff-Sgt. Jennifer Pound.
IHIT had initially received charge approval for aggravated assault against Kalsi in a “domestic-related” attack on her on July 13, but after his wife’s death, the charge was upgraded.
At about noon on July 13, Surrey RCMP were called to Kalsi’s residence in the 19400 block of 32 Avenue where they located his wife with life-threatening injuries. She was airlifted to a hospital by BC Ambulance Service and placed on life support. Kalsi was taken into custody.
SOURCES informed The VOICE on Wednesday morning last week (July 16) that Kalsi was beaten up by some inmate at the Surrey Pretrial Centre and that he was coughing up blood and had to be rushed to Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Surrey RCMP confirmed the assault. Cpl. Bert Paquet told us that the alleged assault took place at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Paquet said: “Our officers attended to the facility as well as a local hospital where Kalsi was transported. Kalsi suffered facial injuries. However, he’s expected to make a full recovery. A 42-year-old male has been identified as a suspect, as our investigation continues. Serious Crimes is investigating this matter. This assault does not appear to be linked to the ongoing [IHIT-led] investigation.”
It is well known that prisoners who are charged with crimes against women or children are beaten up by other inmates. Kalsi could have been killed. Apparently, the pretrial centre guards botched up.
Our story was followed up by other media once it was posted on our website at www.voiceonline.com on Wednesday afternoon.
On Thursday, the Canadian Ramgarhia Society replaced Kalsi with Sardul Singh Rehal as president, stating they were deeply saddened by the tragic incident and that the management of Gurdwara Sahib Brookside categorically condemned all kinds of violence.
There has been utter shock and disbelief in the South Asian community over this incident.
