Gurpreet Singh, a 26-year-old pro-Khalistan Sikh activist who pleaded guilty to causing injury to two Indian-origin men and a female police officer at an Indian Independence Day related community event in Southall in 2023, has been sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment. Gurpreet appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on 20 Mar after pleading guilty in January to the unlawful wounding of victims Aashish Sharma and Nanak Singh and causing actual bodily harm to police constable Justine Nicolle Farrell. Gurpreet caused the injuries with his kirpan (traditional sword) and used it as a ‘weapon of offense.’ ‘I recognise the enormous concern this incident will have caused, both in Southall and in the Sikh communities…We are aware of footage circulating on social media, with people also commenting on what they think happened. We would urge people to avoid echoing or adding to speculation,’ said Metropolitan Police Superintendent Sean Lynch. Gurpreet could face deportation to India at the end of his sentence. Meanwhile, in Australia, Samar Kohli — a Sikh activist in western Sydney involved in the Khalistan Referendum — told the Foreign Correspondent that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) was in touch with him weeks before and after Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Canada. This is when there were allegations of Hindu temples being vandalized by Sikhs which later the Australian authorities refuted, suggesting closure of cases. ASIO agents have been monitoring the safety of Australian Sikh activists. ASIO has not responded to the ABC's questions, saying ‘consistent with long-standing practice, ASIO does not comment on individuals, operations, and investigations.’
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