Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Indian-origin men convicted for attempted murder of Sikh radio jockey in New Zealand

Three individuals of Indian origin have been found guilty of attempting to murder Harnek Singh, a Sikh radio jockey in Auckland, New Zealand. Singh, known for his outspoken views against the Khalistani ideology, was brutally attacked by the three accused on December 23, 2020, in the Wattle Downs area of Auckland. The assault left Singh with over 40 stab wounds, necessitating more than 350 stitches and multiple surgeries to treat his injuries.

After an extensive three-year legal process, the first accused, identified as Sukhpreet Singh (44), has been sentenced to six months of home detention. The second accused, Sarvjeet Sidhu (27), who attacked Singh with a knife, has been handed a prison term of nine-and-a-half years. The third accused, a 48-year-old resident of Auckland, has been given one of the lengthiest possible sentences for attempted murder in New Zealand, amounting to 13-and-a-half years of imprisonment.

The court emphasized the need for community protection and a strong deterrent message in this highly unusual case. It was noted that although the third accused was not present during the attack, he had nursed a deep resentment towards Singh for years due to his political views and his more progressive interpretation of Sikhism. The judge stated that the third accused meticulously planned the assault, leveraging his influence to recruit others to carry out the attack.

Describing the motivation behind the attack, the judge highlighted the element of religious fanaticism involved. He stated, “It bears all the hallmarks of religious fanaticism.” The judge further explained that the violence was committed in the misguided belief of furthering a greater good.

In the course of the trial, two individuals, Jagraj Singh and Gurbinder Singh, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. However, two others, Jobanpreet Singh and Hardeep Singh, are still awaiting sentencing in connection with the case.

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