Family of attacked Sikh priest urges people to come forward and help

Image by GMP

The family of a Sikh priest, who was attacked and left to die in Manchester in June this year, has appealed to the public to help find the attacker, according to media reports.

Greater Manchester Police recently released CCTV footage which shows the incident due to which the 62-year-old was left with serious injuries and has been in the hospital since.

The police also released images of a man and a woman, believed to have played a role in the incident, to be able to find them for an interrogation.

The victim’s family released a statement that said, “Our loving and caring husband/father had his life tragically altered forever when a thug cowardly committed this heinous act, leaving him in a pool of blood with catastrophic permanent life-changing brain damage and walked away as if it was normal behavior.”

“A devoted husband and father who has lived, worked and supported a community in a city he has loved for 37 years and now cannot even leave the hospital.”

They mentioned that the priest did not have anything hateful to say and wanted everyone to deal with it in kindness.

The family also said, “We have lost the life of the party, the light in amongst any darkness in our lives and the laughter and joy he brought home every day, has disappeared and left our hearts vacant,” they said.

“We will sadly never get the man back who left for work that day and thought he would walk home to enjoy the nice weather. We appeal to anyone who knows anything or knows the offender to come forward.”

CCTV inquiries revealed that the victim was assaulted by an unknown male who probably brushed a woman’s arm accidentally when he strolled through Manchester’s Northern Quarter, close to the junction with Hilton Street. The offender then fled the scene, turning left onto Oldham Street.

A witness revealed that the man punched the Sikh priest straight in the face and then got him on the floor, and later walked off.

Detective Inspector Mark Astbury, of Longsight CID, said, “We took the decision to release the CCTV footage with the family’s permission, simply to show the severity and mindlessness of this attack and why we need to make sure the offender is found and faces the consequences of his appalling actions.”

A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident, but later released after being questioned. People can contact the police on 0161 856 6049 or www.gmp.police.uk. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.