India Tribune Newsdesk
Lake Berryessa, CA: A shocking case of mistaken identity has left California’s Sikh community grieving after a well-known temple volunteer and father of newborn triplets was kidnapped in broad daylight and later found murdered near Lake Berryessa. The crime, which unfolded across multiple counties, has raised troubling questions about motive, accountability, and public safety.
Avtar Singh, 57, was abducted on a Tuesday afternoon outside a gurdwara in Tracy, roughly an hour east of San Jose. Surveillance footage captured a chilling scene at around 2:30 p.m., showing three individuals dressed in dark clothing forcing Singh into the back of a white SUV. Authorities said Singh attempted to resist but was ultimately overpowered and driven away against his will.
The alarm was raised later that evening when Singh’s wife returned from work shortly before 9 p.m. and discovered their three six-month-old babies alone at home. The family lived on the temple grounds, and Singh’s unexplained absence immediately sparked concern within the close-knit community. Law enforcement launched a search after receiving a missing-person report that night.
Several days later, on Saturday afternoon, authorities in Napa County discovered a body near Lake Berryessa, about a two-hour drive north of Tracy. The remains were later confirmed to be Singh’s, bringing a devastating end to the search. Investigators also located the white SUV believed to be involved near the scene.
Officials have said the killing was not random and that Singh was not the intended target. According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff, detectives believe the suspects were pursuing another individual for reasons that have not yet been disclosed. While the motive remains unclear, authorities stressed that Singh was an innocent bystander who had no connection to whatever prompted the attack.
Singh was widely respected within the Sikh community. For more than two decades, he served the Tracy gurdwara as a sevadaar, or volunteer, primarily as the head cook. Friends and colleagues described him as humble, deeply devoted, and endlessly helpful, someone who could be relied upon to cook meals, fix problems around the temple, and quietly support anyone in need.
A GoFundMe page set up for his family remembered him as a man with a loving nature who made everyone feel like family. He is survived by his wife and their premature triplets, born just six months ago. As investigators continue their work, authorities have urged anyone with information about the abduction and killing to come forward, hoping answers will bring some measure of justice to a community left in mourning.
(With the input of various media outlet)
