UK cops honour man who saved Namdhari leader’s life
Thursday, 02/04/2015
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
LONDON: The Leicestershire police have honoured Indian national Baldev Singh, who saved the life of Namdhari Sikh leader Uday Singh when the latter was attacked in a local gurdwara during his visit here in 2013.
Baldev was at the forefront of a group of worshippers at the Namdhari Sikh Gurdwara in Leicester in August 2013 when a man (Harjit Singh Toor) took out an axe and tried to assassinate the religious leader. It was Baldev’s quick intervention that saved Uday Singh’s life, the police said.
Led by Baldev, the group of worshippers managed to disarm the assailant, who was later convicted of attempted murder and jailed for 17 years.
Baldev, who travelled from India to collect his Commendation for Bravery award, said: “I had a feeling that something wasn’t right, but no one had any idea that something like this would happen during a religious ceremony.”
He added: “If I hadn’t intervened, the situation would have been very different and the community would have felt upset. It was my natural instinct to save Satguru Uday Singh ji.”
Chief constable Simon Cole said: “It’s really important that we acknowledge the brilliant work that has been achieved by officers, staff and members of the public”.
Ranjit Singh Flora, a member of the Namdhari Sikh community in Leicester, told the local media: “Baldev was the first person to get up and defend His Holiness. He is a very brave man.”
The Namdhari sect has its headquarters at Bhaini Sahib in Ludhiana district.
