A wave of shock and grief gripped Atalan village near Patiala after a 24-year-old Punjabi youth, Khushkarandeep Singh, was allegedly shot dead by unidentified assailants in California, US.Singh had moved to the US nearly five years ago to support his family and was working as a truck driver in California. According to initial reports, the family lost contact with him after July 30, when his mobile phone became unreachable.Following growing anxieties and subsequent complaints, California law enforcement authorities launched a search operation. His body was later recovered from a forest area.Preliminary investigations by US police indicate that Singh was shot while traveling in his vehicle. The motive behind the killing remains unclear, and local detectives are continuing their investigation to track down the assailants.Singh’s father, Balwinder Singh, who lives in Atalan village, has appealed to the Government of India and the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene and ensure the early repatriation of his son’s mortal remains so that the family can perform the last rites.Meanwhile, members of the North American Punjabi diaspora have initiated a fundraising campaign to assist the family meet expenses related to repatriation and legal processes.