From the archive: The murder of a guru

Two hitmen were jailed for life for shooting dead a religious leader and two of his followers.

In 38 seconds of terror the gunmen turned a peaceful religious gathering into a bloodbath.

Their target was guru Maharaj Darshan Das, 34, who was shot through the head from point blank range on 11th November 1987 as he spoke to hundreds of followers.

Extremist Sikhs had passed the death sentence on Das because the popular preacher criticised separatists who wanted an independent state in India

They also objected to him being called a guru.

Das was gunned down at a crowded meeting at Dormers Wells High in School, Southall, west London.

His killers were Rajinder Singh Batth, 37, and Mangit Singh Sunder, 25.

They mingled with other members of the congregation and then suddenly produced guns.

Jaga Singh, 44, and Satwan Singh Panesar, 41 were also shot dead by the hitmen.

Both murderers were captured by members of the congregation, who gave them a severe beating before the police arrived.

The entire horrifying incident was recorded on a film usually used to share hymns and prayers.

Batth was convicted of murdering Das, the manslaughter of Panesar and wounding Dharan Singh Brimbrah, 53. He was cleared of murdering Panesar and of attempting to murder Brimbrah.

Sunder, a factory worker, admitted murdering Das and the manslaughter of Singh two days into the trial.

A hymn singer of Churchill Road, Birmingham, Das was born in the town of Batala, in the Punjab in 1953.

At the age of 13 he said he had a calling to do God’s work and had witnessed several visions and miracles.

In 1984, following the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Das’s centre in Delhi was attacked and 13 of his followers were killed.

In 1980 he came to the UK and formed his own sect, the Shahkand Nank Dham group in Birmingham.

Prosecutor Jean Southworth said: ‘His theology was a mixture of Sikh, Buhddist, and a few independent views.

Das also claimed to be able to make himself disappear, the court heard.

His following grew rapidly and included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.

‘What stuck in the gullet of some Sikhs was that Das was not born a Sikh,’ Ms Southworth said.

His followers believed Das was a man sent from God who preached peace, and possessed magical healing powers.

The post mortem on his body was delayed for 24 hours while his supporters waited in vain for him to rise from the dead.

But the preacher’s enemies, fundamentalist Sikhs, viewed him as a heretic, a rapist and a murderer.

They claimed Das conned his congregation and used his popularity to lure pretty women.

The father of two was always accompanied by his most loyal followers and travelled in a brand new chauffeur driven BMW.

In October 1987 he was introduced to Prince Charles during the opening of an old people’s home supported by his group.

But Das criticised the beliefs of orthodox Sikhs and did not agree with their desire for an independent homeland in the Punjab.

Batth told the jury that he was ‘very upset’ by Das’s preachings.

He said Das charged between five and forty pounds for a healing session and that the preacher had raped a mother and daughter and murdered the son of a Sultan.

The two gunmen attended several of Das’s meetings before going armed with a shotgun, pistol and a revolver.

As Das was about to answer questions, Batth and Sunder walked toward him.

Sunder fired a sawn-off shotgun at him but missed and Batth then killed Das with a pistol shot through the back of the head.

His followers ran to tackle the gunmen, and Sunder drew a silver pistol and killed Mr Singh.

Batth shot wildly and killed Mr Panesar.

The Recorder of London Judge James Miskin said the pair took part in a ‘disgraceful pre-planned slaughter.’

The judge recommended Batth serve a minimum of 30 years and Sunder at least 20 years.

The two men, both wearing orange turbans, chanted, ‘God is great, victory to the God’ as they were led to the cells.