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Moderate Sikh Leaders Doubt Police Theory In Editor Hayer's Murder

Arthur J Pais in Vancouver

On one hand the children and friends of slain Canadian editor and publisher are glad that the British Columbia police have identified the killer, but on the other, they find it difficult to believe the police version that Tara Singh Hayer died because he wrote an editorial against the suspect

"The motive of the suspected killer has been funnelled down to cold-blooded personal revenge," said lead investigator Corporal Dan Russell of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

But Hayer's kith and family believe that Hayer's murder on November 8 last year was clearly political and they are convinced that the then Sikh high priest, Jathedar Ranjit Singh's backers were responsible.

Hayer, 62, was confined to a wheelchair following an attack on him for his outright condemnation of fundamentalist Sikhs in British Columbia, across Canada and India. He was ex-communicated by Ranjit Singh especially for opposing his edict that the Sikhs should not use tables and chairs in the temples

On Wednesday, the Vancouver police authorities said after investigating across Canada, Pakistan and India, they were convinced that Hayer was killed for personal revenge, and they had a suspect whose name will be released after more proof against him is gathered.

Thirtyeight-year-old Inderjit Singh, a truck driver, was identified as the suspect by Vancouver newspapers. He has denied his complicity, while flaunting his connection with the Khalistanis and the International Sikh Youth Federation.

Several friends of the Hayer family said the suspect had great admiration for Ranjit Singh; apart from sharing fundamentalist ideologies both were Ramgaria Sikhs.

While Dave Hayer, who succeeded his father at the Indo-Canadian Times, has toned down his criticism that the police were dragging their feet in the investigation, he and other liberal Sikhs say the fact the police have said the suspect could have had conspirators is significant.

Balwant Singh Gill, president of the Guru Nanak Temple, which wrested control from fundamentalist Sikhs a few months ago, asserted on Thursday that the killer "did not act alone." Besides, Gill and many other family friends of the Hayers said the slain editor never wrote an editorial against Inderjit Singh. "So where is the question of personal revenge?" Gill asked.

He also hastened to add that despite the debate about the motive, he and others in the community were glad there "was at least some lead."

Meanwhile, Dave Hayer is asking the community to "break the walls of silence" and reveal details about the terrorists and murders.

"The entire Sikh community, the entire Indian Canadian community suffers because of the cowardice of the people and the acts of those who want to protect the terrorists and killers," he added.

As for the killer, Dave Hayer could use one word "coward."

"Who could kill a man in a wheelchair?" he asked. "If they did not like his opinions, they had their own newspapers and radio stations to challenge his views."

The killer "does not deserve any protection or favors from anybody."

Meanwhile, Inderjit Singh has accused the police of "twisting" the arms of innocent people.

"I believe in God, I go to pray," Inderjit Singh, who has been associated with the ISYF for more than 15 years, said. "I believe in freedom-fighters." He said he had criticized Tara Singh Hayer because "he was always writing anti-Sikh stories" but killing someone or harming someone was against Sikh tenets, he asserted.

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