Indian woman shot dead in Sampaloc

MANILA, Philippines - An Indian moneylender was shot dead by a suspected hired killer while she was collecting her payment from a store owner in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday morning.

Kirandeep Kaur, 39, is the third Indian national attacked since April 21, when armed men ambushed Gurbreet Singh, 37, and his wife Kanwaldeep Kaur, 35, also in Sampaloc. Singh died while Kan­waldeep survived the attack.

Chief Inspector Alberto Peco, chief of the Manila Police District’s homicide section, said his men are trying to determine how Kirandeep is related to the two other victims since they all lived at the same address.

The suspects in both ambushes did not take the money of the victims. Police are eyeing religious conflict as possible motives for the twin ambushes.

Police said Kirandeep had just emerged from a store at the corner of J. Barlin and P. Campa streets around 10 a.m. when the gunman shot her repeatedly.

The shots caught the attention of Ariel Clara, 43, an anti-crime group volunteer, who chased the escaping suspect. Clara said the gunman was removing his long-sleeved shirt while fleeing. The suspect tried to hitch a ride on a passing passenger jeepney and fired on Clara but missed. The bullet hit Marietta Garcia, 44, who had just bought groceries at the Central Market. Garcia is recuperating from a bullet wound in the right buttock at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Police Officer 1 Oliver Oliveros also joined in the chase, but lost the suspect at the Central Market. Witnesses said a motorcycle-riding accomplice picked up the gunman, who left behind a black vinyl knapsack containing a polo shirt and a blue and cream long-sleeved shirt. – Nestor Etolle