Extremists Who Stabbed Sikh Radio Host 40 Times for Anti-Khalistan Stance Jailed

Three extremists linked with the Khalistan movement were sentenced for the attempted murder of popular Auckland-based radio host Harnek Singh, according to a report by The Australia Today. Harnek has been a vocal opponent of the Khalistan ideology.

Sarvjeet Sidhu, aged 27, pled guilty to attempted murder. Sukhpreet Singh, aged 44, was guilty of being an accessory and the third individual, whose name was not revealed, is a 48-year-old Auckland resident, who planned the attack and harboured resentment against Harnek Singh for his opposition to the Khalistan movement. Judge Mark Woolford during the hearing maintained that there is need for community protection and religious fanaticism must be deterred.

The unnamed 48-year-old mastermind behind the attack received a sentence of 13-and-a-half years. He will have to serve a minimum period of imprisonment of nine years before parole eligibility. Sarvjeet Sidhu was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and Sukhpreet Singh received six months of home detention.

Jagraj Singh and Gurbinder Singh, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Jobanpreet Singh and Hardeep Singh Sandhu, await sentencing early next year for their involvement in the attempted murder of the Sikh radio host.

The attack on Harnek Singh happened almost three years ago in December 2020 when a group of religious extremists attacked him in his driveway. Harnek suffered over 40 stab wounds and required more than 350 stitches and multiple surgeries.

“It bears all the hallmarks of religious fanaticism. … Sentencing in this context requires a different approach. The emphasis must be placed on protecting the community from further violence and it is essential to send a strong message of deterrence to others,” Judge Woolford said.

Nekki was trailed by three cars filled with attackers who stabbed him in a near-fatal manner. He survived because he locked the car and honked his car several times, attracting neighbours’ attention who then took steps to prevent him from bleeding to death from the deep stab wounds.

Two other people, Avtar Singh, a former bodybuilder and Baljinder Singh, said they knew the unnamed third assailant but they stopped associating with the man after labelling him as a “thug” and “mafia” in 2018. Baljinder was even offered to kill Harnek but he declined but he said he received a call from one individual who told him Harnek was stabbed and that his voice will not be heard on the radio.

“My family faces fear each day when the sun goes down. You came to kill me. You tried to silence me. You wanted to send a chilling message to all those who express their disagreement with your unorthodox religious views. But you failed,” Harnek Singh and his family said in a statement.

“I will continue to express my opinions and beliefs as I always have. The only chilling message you have managed to send is to people with the same views and opinion as yours that actions have consequences and that in a country like New Zealand, the law does not bend for you if your wrongful acts are in the name of God,” he further added.