Brutal death has 'broken' family of shopkeeper

Queues of mourners snaked around the streets outside the Sikh temple in central Huddersfield, where the ceremony to mark the life of Mr Singh was held yesterday.

The 63-year-old grandfather was beaten to death at his shop, Cowcliffe Convenience Store in Huddersfield, on February 20, during a raid which claimed just a few packets of cigarettes, bags of coins and some chewing gum.

He died from head injuries after being struck at least nine times with a weapon, believed to be a hammer.

Fellow Sikhs from across West Yorkshire gathered alongside shopkeepers, civic dignitaries and other members of the public.

Organisers said they believed more than 1,000 people turned out. It took about an hour for the mourners to pass through the foyer where Mr Singh's body was laid in an open casket.

Outside the temple, Mr Singh's niece Baljit Sandhu, 41, said: "We were talking about him last night, just saying he just needed to smile at us and it just kind of warmed us up.

"The man that is in that coffin is just a shadow of the man that he was. He was much bigger than that. His heart was much bigger.

"He was the quiet one in the family, very unassuming, but he held everything together.

"Everyone is still really shocked, a bit like being in a dream. When someone else is responsible for taking someone who meant so much to your family it kind of adds a weight to his death. I guess we are all just trying to stay together.

"We wanted to make today about our uncle. He was such a special man who has touched so many people and I think the family has just been broken.

"Hopefully he can get to rest in peace and and we will remember the good about him and the impact he had on all of our lives. We will never forget him." Mr Singh's coffin – which was topped with white lilies and roses – was taken to a local crematorium.

Mourners, led by Mr Singh's wife, Mohinder Kaur, left for the crematorium with close family members in black cars, and hundreds of other well-wishers followed in a fleet of coaches.

Speaking after the ceremony, general secretary of the temple Inderpal Randhawa said: "He was a very friendly person and a very honest businessman.

"His family and the whole community was very shocked and every body was so sad about this tragic incident.

"It was not the first time there had been this type of problem for a shopkeeper, especially in the small community. I would like to ask the Government to protect small shopkeepers.

"His death started with a small incident and it turned into this. What happened to Gurmail and what we are here for today is something that should never happen again."

Labour MP for Huddersfield Barry Sheerman attended the emotional ceremony and said: "There are lots of people from all walks of life and and to see so many people here on an occasion like this is fantastic.

"Nothing will bring back this wonderful man but we can turn this into an opportunity to re-double our efforts."

Shopkeepers in Huddersfield have said they remain fearful of violence following Mr Singh's murder.

In a survey carried out over the weekend in the town, 94 per cent of those questioned said they feel more threatened now than they did five years ago.

A third of traders said they have been victims of violence in the last two years, with many saying those who cause the most nuisance are aged as young as 10.

Mr Singh came to Britain in 1963 and bought the shop in Cowcliffe about five years ago.

Since his death it has emerged what a pillar of community he had become. He opened his store from dawn to late evening, seven days a week – often starting work before the store opened its doors, delivering papers and helping people in the area.

n Two men, Umare Aslam and Muawaz Khalid, both 20, plus three 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named, have appeared in court charged with the murder of Mr Singh and robbery.