Yuba City man arrested on terror threats

A Yuba City man was arrested after reportedly making terrorist threats against members at the Sikh Temple in Yuba City on Sunday morning.

Mohinder Singh Nijjer, 63, of Yuba City, was apparently upset that he was not involved with the swearing-in of new officials at the Tierra Buena temple, according to the Sutter County Sheriff's Department.

New directors of the temple were elected in September. That election was challenged, but a ruling by the Sutter County Superior Court upheld the outcome of the election last week.

"He was upset he was not included in the decision-making," Sgt. Merle Weber said.

Weber said six people witnessed Nijjer argue with one person, whose name was not released, at the temple around 11:40 a.m.

During the argument, Nijjer allegedly pulled out a folding knife. When the presence of the knife was announced by one witness, Nijjer reportedly put the weapon away and left the building.

Weber said according to witnesses, Nijjer then called another person, whose name was also not released, from outside the temple and told him to "come outside so he could shoot him."

Nijjer was questioned at his home on Karnail Court around 2:40 p.m. and arrested on suspicion of making terrorist threats and booked into Sutter County Jail.

A Feb. 2 arraignment is scheduled in Sutter County Superior Court. Bail was set at $50,000. Nijjer was no longer being held Monday, according to Sutter County Jail records.

Contact Appeal-Democrat re-porter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com.