COVO, ITALY – What began as a vibrant celebration of the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi ended in a horrific double homicide on Friday night, as two Indian nationals were gunned down in what authorities are investigating as a "coldly planned execution."

The victims, identified as Raginder Singh (48) and Gurmit Singh (48), were shot just minutes before midnight in the industrial area of Covo, a town in the Bergamo province of northern Italy.

The incident occurred in the square directly in front of the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, a warehouse converted into a place of worship. The victims were part of a large gathering of the local Sikh community celebrating Vaisakhi, one of the most significant dates in the Sikh calendar.

The attack occurred at approximately 11:50 p.m. local time on April 17, 2026, as the victims were leaving the building and were approached by at least one assailant who opened fire. Witnesses reported a rapid succession of shots, and investigators later recovered roughly ten shell casings from the pavement at the scene. Following the shooting, the gunman—reportedly of Indian origin—fled the area immediately in a waiting vehicle.

Both victims were well-respected figures within the local expatriate community. Raginder Singh was a resident of Covo known for his active community involvement, while Gurmit Singh had traveled from nearby Agnadello specifically to participate in the religious festivities. Despite the swift arrival of emergency responders, the injuries sustained by both men proved fatal, and they were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

Italian Carabinieri have ruled out the possibility of a random brawl or a sudden escalation of violence. The precision of the attack and the timing suggest the victims were targeted.

"We are looking at a hypothesis of a premeditated act," a spokesperson for the local authorities stated. "The investigation is currently focusing on the victims' personal and professional backgrounds to determine a motive for such a violent confrontation."

The shooting has sent shockwaves through the thousands of Indian nationals living in the Lombardy region. Vaisakhi is traditionally a time of joy, harvest, and the birth of the Khalsa—making this act of violence outside a place of worship particularly devastating for the community.

Security has been tightened around local Gurdwaras as the manhunt for the shooter and any potential accomplices continues.