By Chad Skelton, Vancouver Sun

The husband of a 32-year-old Vancouver woman shot dead in India Thursday morning has been arrested in connection with her murder, according to the woman’s family.

According to Indian media reports, Kuldeep Kaur Badyal, 32, was shot while on her way to a temple in the village of Lehli in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab.

Pav Bahia, Badyal’s cousin, said the family has been told her husband Manjit, 37, has been arrested by Indian police.

“We have heard word from Indian authorities and family in India ... that he has been arrested and is being held right now,” said Bahia.

Immediately following Kuldeep’s death, Indian media reports quoted Manjit as saying he had no idea who his wife’s attackers were.

Indian police have said Kuldeep was shot once in the chest at close range and died on the spot.

Bahia said his family still has few details about the circumstances surrounding her murder.

“We’re waiting for some more information to come in from India,” said Bahia, noting the time difference with India had made getting details difficult.

He said Badyal was killed around 7 a.m. Thursday in India, or 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Vancouver time.

Bahia said Badyal’s death has been a big blow to her family.

“She’s a great, great person, a great mother and a fun-loving, caring individual,” he said. “She always had a smile on her face. She wasn’t the most outspoken. She was fairly quiet and reserved. She didn’t do anything wrong to anybody.”

Bahia said Badyal and her husband, Manjit, had been married for about 10 years.

He said they had two boys. One is five years old and the other is turning nine later this month.

He said Kuldeep worked as a janitor at the airport and Manjit owned his own dump truck.

He said they went over to India to visit relatives on Jan. 9th and were due to return this week.

The children, who accompanied the couple on their trip, are now with relatives in India, said Bahia.

Asked how the couple were getting along recently, Bahia refused to say.

Earlier in the day, Kuldeep’s brother Amandeep Singh Bal released a statement on the family’s behalf.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the heinous murder of our beloved, sister, daughter, and niece Kuldeep,” the statement said. “She was a devoted wife and loving mother of two young children. She laughed easily and treated everyone around her in a loving and caring manner. She was a hardworking person who enjoyed her job ... and lived an average Canadian family life in Vancouver. Her life was her children and her family.”

“We are hopeful that both the Indian and Canadian authorities will thoroughly investigate this matter, and find whoever is responsible for this unspeakable crime. We will not be able to cope and move on until the person or persons involved are apprehended and locked up for life. 

“She will be sadly missed by her parents, two brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her poor children will live the rest of their lives without their loving mother and her loss has left the family in distress.”

Property records indicate the Badyals own a $620,000 house in the 400-block of East 55th Ave. in Vancouver.

Jay Sahota, a neighbour, said Kuldeep was a kind woman who took good care of her two boys.

“She was a very nice lady. She was always cooking and up from morning till night doing stuff,” he said. “She was very attentive to her kids. It’s too bad. She was a very nice lady.”

Sahota said the couple seemed happy but he did recall a loud fight in their backyard last summer between Kuldeep, Manjit and another woman.

“One time outside there was a little melee between his wife another girl and him,” he said. “It was kind of loud.”