MANTECA: A Manteca Sikh couple has lost their savings and faith in their new home as the victims of what Investigators believe is an arsonist set fire. The delicatessen was owned by a couple from Punjab, India had received phone calls that they perceived as racist motivated hate threats.
“If it turns out to be arson, and if there have been threats made, we’ll investigate it as a hate crime,” police Capt. Bill Mahaffey said while investigating Monday’s $160,000 fire.
Ceres residents Rajinder Randhawa and his wife, Surjit, said they have been threatened since they bought Golden Oldies Delicatessen in July because they Mrs. Kaur, a former supervisor at a Milpitas electronics firm, invested $20,000 eight years’ worth of savings to open the Deli, She fears that the Insurance policy she purchased may not have been in effect at the time of the blaze.
“My wife and I have been receiving threatening phone calls at work, Randhawa said, “The person becomes very abusive and says things like, “You dirty Indians, get out of here. Go back to India where you belong.”
Randhawa said they got four telephone threats during August. A tearful Surjit Randhawa, said the telephone calls have left her constantly afraid.
One evening, a man loitering outside the deli followed her to her car in the parking lot, she said. I’m so scared now,” she added. “IT was so happy to have bought a business. Now look.” George Wells, chief San Joaquin County arson investigator, said it is likely the fire was deliberately set. Recently, Fresno was the site of a similar case.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 18, 1992
