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LONDON/CHANDIGARH: A 24-year-old Indian mother has been stabbed to death in what appears to be a random unprovoked attack at her west London home.Kirandeep Kaur, an Indian national who hails from Piddi village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, was found dead at a house in Hayes on Sunday morning. She leaves a new-born baby aged a few months.A man, aged in his 20s, was also found outside the property with stab injuries. He remains in hospital; his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.Kirandeep was in the UK on a work permit, having arrived two years ago on a student visa.Daniel Sean James (44), who lives in Pinner, was charged by police on Monday with murder, attempted murder and possession of a bladed article. He appeared at Willesden magistrates court on Tuesday. No plea was entered. He was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on Aug 11.Kirandeep’s family in Punjab, who sold agricultural land to fund her studies, have alleged the attack was racially motivated and appealed to the Indian government to help bring her body back.A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: “Police were called to reports of a stabbing at a property on Uxbridge Road at around 7.55 am on 12 July. Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service. Upon arrival, they found a 24-year-old woman with stab injuries. Despite the efforts of emergency services, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene… Although there is no evidence this was a hate crime at this stage, investigators are keeping an open mind and exploring every line of enquiry.”Her elder brother Lovepreet Singh, 27, a truck driver, said the family sold half an acre of land, the only asset they had, to send her to the UK after she completed her four-year BSc degree in Punjab.Kirandeep was in the UK on a work permit, having arrived in September 2024 on a student visa. “We spent Rs 25 lakh to send her to the UK and pay for her education,” Lovepreet said, adding that she was set to get her degree in Sept this year.According to Lovepreet, one of four siblings, the family was financially very weak. “After she went to the UK, we had high hopes that she would help one of us move to the UK as well and turn around the family’s fortunes,” said Lovepreet, adding that it appeared to be “a racist attack”. Lovepreet said he had no idea about the identity of the injured victim. No official has yet got in touch with the family in Tarn Taran, he said.Sikh Press Association spokesperson Jasveer Singh said: “Many British Sikhs remain concerned about increased race-based attacks on the community in the UK, most of which seem to target our vulnerable (elderly and women. ) Grassroots support groups are issuing general safeguarding protocols and efforts to support her family are in motion too.”
