A Punjab IELTS centre link in murder of Indian woman in New Jersey

Gunshots rang out in Carteret, New Jersey, and two Indian women slumped to the ground. The attacker was an Indian-origin man and the genesis of the attack was Nakodar, a small town in Punjab. One of the women died from bullet injuries while the other is battling for life.

Across continents and a flying distance of 11,500 km, it is an IELTS centre in Punjab’s Nakodar that the origins of Wednesday’s attack in the US is being traced to.

Nineteen-year-old Gaurav Gill fired at 29-year-old Jasvir Kaur and 20-year-old Gagandeep Kaur, both from Punjab.

While Jasvir succumbed to bullet injuries, Gagandeep is fighting for life at University Hospital Newark. Her condition is said to be critical.

It was at an IELTS centre, that trains those aspiring to go abroad for studies in English, in Punjab, where Gaurav met Gagandeep.

They were acquainted and attended an IELTS coaching centre in Nakodar together, according a news report in the Times of India.

Jasvir Kaur, who died, was from Gorsian near Nurmahal, a city in Punjab, and was hosting her cousin, Gagandeep, at her home when the shooting incident occurred on Wednesday morning.

Gagandeep, who was studying in the US on a visa, had recently confided in Jasbir about her difficulties with her studies.

According to Kewal Singh, Jasvir’s father, Jasvir was asleep when the accused, Gill, approached Gagandeep outside the house. An altercation ensued, and when Jasvir intervened, the accused fired seven shots at her, resulting in her death.

Gagandeep and the accused, Gill, had both gone to the US around the same time.

Surjit Kaur, Gagandeep’s mother, expressed they were unfamiliar with Gill or any disputes involving her daughter.

Coming from a farming background, Gagandeep’s father also drove a school bus to support the family, managing to send their daughter to study in the US.

Jasvir was married and reportedly worked at an Amazon facility in Carteret, while her husband worked as a truck driver and was away from town, as per US media reports.

Gill was arrested six hours after the incident in a backyard about half a mile from the shooting site. He had been residing in Kent, Washington, and faces charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and weapon possession offences.

Gill appeared before a judge in Middlesex County Court on Thursday. His first court appearance was brief, taking place at the Middlesex County Jail before Judge Gary Price, according to News12 New Jersey.

Gill is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday for a detention hearing.

Authorities have not provided a motive for the shooting or clarified any connection between Gill and the victims.