Three Khalistan extremists have been sentenced for the attempted murder of popular Auckland-based radio host Harnek Singh, who has been vocal against the ideology of Khalistan, The Australia Today reported.

Sarvjeet Sidhu, aged 27, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, while Sukhpreet Singh, aged 44, was found guilty of being an accessory. The third individual, a 48-year-old Auckland resident with interim name suppression, planned the attack, harbouring resentment against Harnek Singh for his vocal opposition to the separatist movement, The Australia Today reported, citing NZ Herald.

During the hearing, Judge Mark Woolford emphasised the need for community protection and a strong deterrence against religious fanaticism.

The attack occurred on December 23, 2020, when Harnek Singh was ambushed by a group of religious extremists in his driveway. He suffered over 40 stab wounds and required more than 350 stitches and multiple surgeries to recover.

Judge Woolford remarked, “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.”

Harnek Singh, also known as Nekki, had been followed by three cars full of men before the attackers stabbed him “within an inch of his life.” He managed to lock the door of his vehicle and attract neighbours’ attention by sounding the horn, preventing potential bleeding to death from the extensive stab wounds, according to The Australia Today.

Earlier, Avtar Singh, a former bodybuilder, told the court he used to be friends with the man with name suppression, however, he soon stopped associating with the man whom he labelled a “thug” and “mafia” in 2018. “He has a way around people, especially broken people,” Singh said.

Avtar’s friend Baljinder told the court he’d been asked to kill Harnek, but declined. He added that on December 23, Jaspal Singh rang him, “Job is done, he’s no longer going to be on the radio.”

According to the report, there is a 48-year-old defendant (with interim name suppression) who was not present at the time of the attack. This man, the court was told, harboured a years-long resentment against Hranek Singh as the popular Kiwi radio host was vocal against the Khalistan.

“Harnek Singh told the courtroom that his opinions regarding Sikhism probably fall more along the liberal end of the spectrum while the majority of his critics were more on the fundamentalist or conservative side,” as reported by The Australia Today.

In a victim impact statement read aloud by prosecutors, Harnek Singh described the ongoing fear his family faces, “My family faces fear each day when the sun goes down.” He expressed gratitude to the New Zealand justice system for ensuring that “no one is above the law, not even religion.”

Harnek Singh addressed the defendants directly, stating, “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.”

He continued, “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.”

Harnek Singh’s words resonated with the judge and he repeated them as he sentenced the defendant, The Australia Today reported, citing NZ Herald.

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

Notably, two men, Jagraj Singh and Gurbinder Singh, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, while two others, Jobanpreet Singh and Hardeep Singh Sandhu, await sentencing early next year for their involvement in the attempted murder of Harnek Singh.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Former US National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton has praised India’s growing importance to the United States, emphasising the need for closer bilateral cooperation and recognising New Delhi’s emerging global role.

Writing for the Washington Examiner, Mr Bolton pointed to the joint US-India effort to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a testament to India’s willingness to assert its influence on the global stage. The BRI, a colossal infrastructure investment project by China, has sparked apprehension regarding its potential to amplify Beijing’s economic and political sway across Asia and beyond.

“Beyond doubt, India will be a pivotal player in containing China’s hegemonic aspirations along its vast Indo-Pacific perimeter,” Mr Bolton wrote.

Mr Bolton, who served as the NSA in former President Donald Trump’s administration, also shed light on the ongoing case involving former Indian naval officers in Qatar. He said the case has undoubtedly brought to the forefront India’s complex relationship with the Middle East and its willingness to collaborate on intelligence matters with countries beyond its traditional allies.

“The ramifications for India from Israel’s current war to eliminate Hamas’s terrorism and constrain its Iranian puppet masters are significant, opening opportunities for both countries. But the situation also presents risks in a complex and difficult region,” he wrote.

Mr Bolton pointed out the potential strategic risks associated with a recent US loan of $553 million for a deepwater container terminal project in Colombo.

Mr Bolton praised the involvement of the Adani Group in the project.

“The Adani Group, one of India’s biggest industrial conglomerates, with deep expertise in port construction and management, is the project’s majority owner in this the first significant cooperative effort between India’s private sector and America’s government, one directly competitive with China” he wrote.

“Teaming with a pathbreaking private Indian firm in the Colombo venture is a dramatic example of leveraging US – Indian resources to mutual advantage,” he added.

Mr Bolton additionally underscored the necessity for enhanced cooperation among the US’s Arab partners, affirming that a broader Indian role and partnership with the US on a global scale would be in line with the shared national interests of both countries.

“Just as the Adani Group’s Colombo port project, bolstered by US financial connections, is geostrategically important to counter China’s hegemonic aspirations, so is increasing greater unity among America’s Arab partners. A wider Indian role and cooperation with the US globally will serve both countries’ national interests,” he wrote.

The Garisenda tower in Italy’s Bologna, also known as the ‘leaning tower’, has been steady for nearly 1,000 years. But the tallest tower in the town is now at risk of collapsing due to excessive leaning, according to reports.  

The 150-foot tall tower has been leaning at an angle of 4 degrees since the 14th century when officials tried to remove the top of the building with the aim of stabilising it. The iconic Tower of Pisa leans at 5 degrees.

Over the years, Italy has done extensive work over the years to maintain the integrity of the tower.

But now the tower is leaning excessively and has forced city officials to bring into action a civil protection plan. According to CNN, the tower is at risk of a “sudden and unexpected collapse”.

A metal cordon will now be put up around the tower to contain the debris and reduce the vulnerability of surrounding buildings in case of a collapse.

A protective cordon will be erected to contain debris resulting from a possible collapse, to reduce the vulnerability of surrounding buildings and the exposure to the population, as well as blocking access to the off-limits areas,” the city council said in a statement.

The warning was issued by a scientific committee which has monitored the site since 2019. They have installed sensors that measure the movements of the ancient tower. The committee said that the readings in October 2023 triggered alarm bells, reports CNN.

The ‘high alert’ warning states that an “unexpected and accelerated trend” of “crushing compression” of the base tower has been observed. It adds that the cracks in the stones used in the base could expand to the bricks above.

As soon as the report came out, civic officials shut down the area around the tower and closed all roads leading to it.