India reaches out to families hit by US gurdwara shooting

New Delhi -  Condemning the US gurdwara shooting that killed six Sikh devotees, union minister Vayalar Ravi Tuesday directed the Indian embassy in Washington to provide "all  possible assistance" to the affected families.

"Vayalar Ravi, union minister of overseas Indian affairs, has condemned the shooting incident at a gurdwara in Wisconsin, USA," said a statement issued here.

Expressing his "heart-felt condolences to the victims' families," the minister "directed the Indian embassy in Washington and the Consul General in Chicago to ensure all possible assistance  to the affected Indians in this regard."

A lone gunman, Wade Michael Page, described as a white supremacist, Sunday morning opened fire at devotees in the gurdwara in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek, spreading terror in  the area and leaving the community stunned. He killed six people before he was shot dead.

Four of the six Sikh worshippers killed were Indian citizens, and one was a recent visitor from India.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna spoke with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and conveyed the deep distress felt by the government and people of India at the tragic killings of  innocent worshippers at the gurdwara.