Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa’s son-in-law was reportedly found murdered near his apartment on Monday morning in Chicago. He is suspected to have been attacked with a knife by unidentified persons. He was stabbed several times and died on the spot.

Satwinder Singh Bhola (53) was the husband of Sarvarinder Kaur, Khalsa’s daughter. She was by her father’s side during his hunger strike seeking the release of Sikh prisoners in various jails in the country who have completed their sentence. She had left for Chicago on August 5.

Ravinderjit Singh Gogi, Kaur’s brother, said: “We are very shocked. My brother-in-law was returning from work. After parking his car in the parking lot of his apartment, some unidentified persons attacked him with a knife and he died on the spot.”

Bhola had moved to the US in the early 90s after taking political asylum. He was an active member of the Sikh students federation during the time Punjab was under the cloud of terrorism.

An advocate to the Surat Singh Khalsa Sangarsh Committee told The Indian Express that once he took up political asylum, he never came to India. Gogi confirmed that his father would not give up on his protest for the release of Sikh prisoners. He said the government “has tried hard” to dissuade Khalsa but “has failed”.

Supporters claim that the murder was an attempt to force Surat Singh Khalsa to give up his strike. Sikh organisations are circulating this message through social media.

In May this year, the US Congress had warned India about the actions being taken by the administration on Khalsa who is a permanent resident of the US.