BBC
February 12, 2014
A Sikh religious leader was attacked with an axe at a temple in revenge for alleged sexual abuse, a jury has heard.
Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji, described by police as the worldwide spiritual head of the Namdhari community, was assaulted at the Gurdwara Namdhari Temple in Leicester.
Harjit Singh Toor, 27, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent but denies attempted murder.
The victim was attacked on 11 August, hours after arriving in the UK.
The prosecution compared his position for Namdharis to that of the Pope for the Roman Catholic faith.
Birmingham Crown Court was shown video footage of the moment he was attacked, suffering a broken arm and facial injuries.
Opening the case, prosecutor Gordon Aspden said Toor, of Woods Close, Oadby, Leicestershire, was motivated by religious hatred for his victim.
The prosecution does not accept Toor’s claims that he was sexually abused by him 20 years ago in India.
He said: “Although the defendant is an orthodox Sikh he was dressed like a Namdhari, wearing a white turban.
“That manner of dress meant he was able to walk into the gurdwara without being challenged.
“He walked down the central aisle… and when he reached the platform, the defendant pulled back his shawl and produced an axe that he had concealed underneath it.