Namdhari Sect Leader’s Attacker Says He Was Sexually Abused By Him

LONDON – A Sikh man on trial for theattempted murder of Namdhari sectleader Uday Singh in Britain has claimedthat it was a revenge attack over beingsexually abused by the guru 20 yearsago.Harjit Singh Toor (27), a non-NamdhariSikh, appeared before the BirminghamCrown Court this week as jurors wereshown video footage of the moment hepulled out a 3-foot axe from his shawlduring morning prayers at a gurdwara inLeicester last August. The Namdharileader suffered a brokenarm and a cut nose when hetried to shield himself fromthe blows in front of horrifiedworshippers.Openingthe case, prosecutorGordon Aspden said Toorwas motivated by religioushatred for his victim andrejected his claims that hewas sexually abused by theleader in India.“The prosecution does notaccept that the defendant’srecent sexual abuse allegation is true.You may conclude that this attack was aresult of religious hatred. Whatever thisattack was borne out of, whether it wasreligious hatred or revenge, the defendanthad an absolutely crystal clearmotive to want to kill the guru,” Aspdensaid.According to court reports in the localmedia, the guru’s mother, who wasaccompanying him on his first visit tothe UK, was sitting next to him and witnessedthe attack. Other worshippersinside the temple jumped on the attackerand began punching and kicking himbefore police arrived.“Although the defendant is an orthodoxSikh he was dressed like a Namdhari,wearing a white turban. That manner ofdress meant he was able to walk into thegurdwara without being challenged,”Aspden told the court.“He walkeddown the central aisle and when hereached the platform, the defendantpulled back his shawl and produced anaxe that he had concealed underneath it.He then attacked the guru with the axe,”he added. Shortly after theattack, Toor was heard sayingthat “his guru” was theSikh holy book and he didnot believe in a living guru.The prosecution describedUday Singh’s position as“similar to that which thePope occupies withinRoman Catholicism”.Toor from Leicester admittedduring police interviewsto attacking Uday Singhand the charge of grievousbodily harm with intent but deniedattempted murder. His trial is expectedto last a week.Uday Singh took over as Namdhari sectleader in December 2012 after the deathof Satguru Jagjit Singh.His selection was opposed by somewithin the sect, including his elderbrother Dalip Singh.It was speculated that the attacker mayhave a link with the controversy surroundingthe choice of sect leader.Uday Singh had travelled to the UKfrom India to convene a NamdhariDarbar.