Four British Sikhs have been arrested in connection with the murder of an Indian Sikh politician in Patiala last year.
Rulda Singh, 62, an activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-linked Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, was shot and injured at in his shop in Patiala's grain market on July 28, 2009, by some assailants who fled in a car. He died in hospital two weeks later.
Confirming the arrests, a police spokesperson said: “West Midlands Police have arrested four men on suspicion of the murder, in India, of Rulda Singh. The men, who were detained earlier this morning at their home addresses, are from Smethwick, Wolverhampton, and two from Coventry. All are British subjects and aged between 27 and 36.”
The police declined to confirm or deny whether the suspects mentioned in Indian media reports were among those arrested. It was also not clear whether they were members of the Babbar Khalsa International, which had reportedly claimed responsibility for the murder.
Singh's association with the Hindu nationalists had apparently angered some right-wing Sikh groups, who accused him of undermining Sikhism. He visited Britain and other countries on a mission to persuade overseas Sikhs to return to India.
The arrests on Monday followed joint probe by the British and Indian police.
Detective Superintendent George Tracey refused to speculate on the motive.
