A national civil rights group and the victim’s family members are questioning whether the homicide of a Sikh prayer leader in Selma was based on his race or religion.

Selma police say 29-year-old Raj “Goldy” Singh died of a gunshot wound Friday night, near Highland and Rose avenues. The location is near the Sikh Center of the Pacific Coast, a gurdwara, or temple of worship.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations called on law enforcement “to investigate a possible bias motive” on Thursday.

“Because of the rise in bias-motivated incidents we have witnessed in recent months, and because this shooting occurred near a house of worship, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate this crime with the possibility of a bias motive in mind,” CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said in a news release.

However, Selma police are saying there is no indication of racial motivation, Sgt. Caleb Garcia told GV Wire.

Garcia said Singh was a gurdwara employee. He also said that Singh’s killing is an active investigation, and police are unsure if the homicide is related to a carjacking in Tulare County.

Family Suspects Hate Crime

Indian media described Singh as a temple musician, originally from Tanda Sahuwala village in Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh.

The Times of India reported that the family of Singh suspected his killing was a hate crime. The family is requesting that the body be returned to India.

Gurdeep Singh, Goldy Singh’s brother-in-law, told the Times of India they are appealing “to our government for justice and the arrest of the killers.”

The Sikh community also reached out to Selma Mayor Scott Robertson.

“My heart goes out to Mr. Singh’s family and the entire Sikh community for their loss,” Robertson said.