Three Khalistan extremists have been found guilty of plotting to kill Indian-origin radio host Harnek Singh in Auckland, New Zealand. Sarvjeet Sidhu, 27, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, while Sukhpreet Singh, 44, was convicted of being an accessory. The third individual, a 48-year-old Auckland resident with name suppression, planned the attack due to his resentment towards Singh’s opposition to the Khalistan separatist movement.
During the trial, Judge Mark Woolford emphasized the importance of community protection and deterring religious fanaticism. The attack took place on December 23, 2020, when Singh was ambushed by a group of religious extremists in his driveway. He suffered over 40 stab wounds and required extensive medical treatment to recover.
Singh managed to lock himself in his vehicle and attract his neighbors’ attention by sounding the horn, preventing further harm. Avtar Singh, a former friend of the man with name suppression, described him as a “thug” and “mafia” and stopped associating with him in 2018.
The court heard that the 48-year-old defendant, who was not present during the attack, had harbored resentment towards Singh for years due to his vocal opposition to Khalistan. Singh described his opinions regarding Sikhism as more liberal, while his critics were more fundamentalist or conservative.
In a victim impact statement, Singh expressed his family’s ongoing fear and gratitude to the New Zealand justice system for upholding the law. He addressed the defendants directly, stating that their attempt to silence him had failed and that he would continue to express his opinions. He emphasized that in a country like New Zealand, the law does not bend for those who commit wrongful acts in the name of God.
The mastermind behind the attack received a sentence of 13-and-a-half years, with a minimum imprisonment period of nine years before parole eligibility. Sidhu was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, while Sukhpreet Singh received six months of home detention.
Two individuals were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and two others await sentencing for their involvement in the attempted murder.
