4 of Sikh family die in fire, police suspect 'murder'

London, September 29, 2004
Nabanita Sircar
Hindustan Tinmes


A murder investigation has been launched into the death of four members of a Sikh family in a fire. The fire broke out on night and rapidly spread through the semi-detached house in Tipton, West Midlands. Police suspect petrol was used to start it.

By the time the firemen reached the house, they found the bodies of Ajit Singh, 64, his wife Gurdish Kaur, 60, along with their daughter Darshan Kaur, 30, and daughter-in-law Palwinder Kaur, 38. Officers believe the fire had started in the hall. Police is treating the deaths as murder and the attack as arson.

The only survivor is Amarjeet, 20, the grand-daughter of Singh. She was rescued by a passer-by and taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Firemen arrived at the scene within 40 seconds of receiving a 999 call but the blaze was so fierce they could do nothing to save those trapped inside. A neighbour raised the alarm just before midnight on Monday after spotting smoke.

Witnesses later saw Amarjeet standing on the pavement with a towel wrapped round her arm and another woman being held back as she fought to get into the house.

Singh's son, Dilbar Singh Sidhu, 36, was in London with his brother Darshan when his friends informed him about the fire. Darshan's wife was also killed in the fire.

On rushing back to Tipton, Sidhu, who's parents were from Jalandar, said: "I am absolutely shocked and devastated. I got a phone call telling me something bad had happened."

He informed his parents had come to the UK from India six years ago and the couple worked for a packaging company before they retired two years ago. His sister Darshan had returned from India only six days ago.