3 Khalistan terrorists convicted in conspiracy to murder Indian-origin radio host in New Zealand

Three Khalistan militants have been convicted and sentenced for attempting to murder Auckland-based popular radio host Harnek Singh.

According to the media reports, Harnek Singh has been vocal against the ideology of Khalistan.

Sarvjeet Sidhu, 27, was found guilty of attempt to murder, while Sukhpreet Singh, 44, was found guilty of aiding and abetting attempt to murder.

Reports said that the third person, a 48-year-old Auckland resident, whose name has not been made public. It is being told that the attack was planned out of resentment against Harnek Singh for his vocal opposition to the separatist movement. During the hearing of the case, Judge Mark Woolford stressed the need for community safety and strict measures against religious fanaticism.

This attack took place on December 23, 2020. Then Harnek Singh was ambushed on the way by a group of religious extremists. He suffered more than 40 stab wounds and required more than 350 stitches and multiple surgeries to recover. Delivering his sentence, Judge Woolford said, "Religious fanaticism is clearly visible in this case... a different approach to sentencing is required. Emphasis should be placed on protecting society from further violence and protecting other people." It is important to send a strong message."

Harnek Singh was also known as Nekki. People had come in three cars to attack him. Harnek was attacked by many people simultaneously and during this he saw death very closely.

According to The Australia Today, during the attack, Harnek reached his car and locked it. After this, he managed to call people for help by blowing the car horn. After this he was admitted to the hospital.

Baljinder, a friend of former bodybuilder Avtar Singh, told the court that he was asked to kill Harnek, but he refused. He told that on December 23, Jaspal Singh called him, 'The work is done, it will not come on the radio anymore.'

The judge liked Harnek Singh's words and he repeated them while sentencing the accused. The 48-year-old mastermind behind the attack was sentenced to thirteen and a half years in prison.

Sarvjit Sidhu was sentenced to nine and a half years' imprisonment, while Sukhpreet Singh got six months of home detention. While two of the accused, Jagraj Singh and Gurbinder Singh, were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence, two others, Jobanpreet Singh and Hardeep Singh Sandhu, are awaiting trial for their involvement in the attempt to murder Harnek Singh.