Amandeep Singh Dhami is wanted in connection with Sunday's shooting. Dhami is in Canada, a friend says, but sheriff's investigators are unsure.

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Relatives accused of aiding fugitive suspect in cricket-match slaying

Published: Saturday, Sep. 6, 2008 - 12:00 am | Page 3B

Sacramento County sheriff's deputies have arrested four relatives of the fugitive suspect in Sunday's fatal shooting at a sports festival for allegedly aiding and abetting his escape.

Amandeep Singh Dhami, who is wanted in connection with the slaying, is believed to be in Canada, the FBI said earlier this week.

On Friday, deputies arrested Amandeep Singh Dhami's father, 50-year-old Balbir Dhami, and cousin, 29-year-old Bhupinder Chahal, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran.

On Thursday, deputies also arrested Chahal's wife, 28-year-old Harpreet Kaur, and Amandeep Dhami's sister-in-law, 27-year-old Rajvir Kaur, Curran said.

The fugitive Dhami, a 24-year-old felon on probation for weapons-related charges, is believed to be one of two men responsible for the death of a 26-year-old man at the Gurmukh Singh Johal Memorial Tournament on Bradshaw Road, Curran said.

Parmit Singh Pamma was gunned down among throngs of people, some of whom turned on the gunmen with cricket bats and hockey sticks in hand.

Dhami escaped, while a second suspect, Gurpreet Singh Gosal, was held by members of the crowd. When deputies arrived, they arrested Gosal, 24, on suspicion of murder.

Curran said one of the female suspects arrested was at the sporting complex Sunday and helped Dhami flee by giving him keys to a vehicle. The three other relatives "facilitated his flight from his apprehension," Curran said.

The shooting apparently stemmed from a long-standing feud, relatives said.

According to an FBI affidavit filed Wednesday, a Dhami family acquaintance told federal authorities Dhami had fled to Canada. The affidavit was accompanied by a criminal complaint charging Dhami with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

But Curran said sheriff's detectives still are not sure of his whereabouts.

"There's nothing that leads us to believe right now he's in Canada," he said.

If convicted, the family members could face a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to one year or both.


Call The Bee's Kim Minugh, (916) 321-1038.


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