|
Chemical attack on Sikh may have left him blind
 A SIKH community leader could be blinded for life after a mystery attacker threw corrosive chemicals in his face. Family man Amarjit Singh Uppal, 49, was attacked on his drive in a Leeds suburb by a man who may have lain in wait for him. The father-of-four, who is assistant general secretary at the Sikh temple in Chapeltown Road, Leeds, was in hospital last night being comforted by his distraught wife and family members. He has undergone treatment but it is feared that the damage will result in blindness. He was attacked by a black man in his late 20s who appeared to be mixing a solution in a metal tray as he approached. The motive for the attack is not known but detectives believe Mr Uppal was the intended target. The substance was corrosive enough to damage the paintwork of two cars but police do not yet know what it is. Detective Inspector Adrian Taylor described the incident as "horrendous" and "unprovoked". He said: "This is a nasty attack and the victim may be permanently blinded. The victim is a family man who is not known to the police in any way. At the moment it is being treated as an unprovoked attack. "It is an horrendous attack. The injuries are serious and catastrophic for his and his family's life." Mr Uppal has told police that he did not know the man who attacked him. He is due to be interviewed again by detectives in a bid to build up any background which may explain why the attack happened. Mr Uppal was attacked as he stepped from his car in Carr Manor Road, Moortown, at around 8.30pm on Tuesday. He managed to get inside his semi-detached home and rinse his eyes before an ambulance arrived. Police officers were yesterday conducting fingertip searches around Mr Uppal's home and a stretch of the road was cordoned off. Neighbours described Mr Uppal as a quiet and respectable family man. One man, who asked not to be named, said: "He is quite well-known in the Sikh Indian community. He volunteers as a secretary at the Gujarat temple and is very well-respected. "It's a horrendous attack. I have no idea at all why someone would do this to him, especially because it appears the person targeted him."
"He is a non-smoker and non-drinker and has been involved at the temple for several years. "What has happened is terrible and very sad. We will say prayers for him on Friday." Local councillor Mark Harris said: "This was a particularly unpleasant attack. There is no place in Leeds for this sort of thing. I am extremely sorry for the family concerned." Police say the suspect ran along Carr Manor Road after the attack. He is described as black, aged 25-50, about 5ft 5in tall, with a medium skin tone. He wore a short dark jacket and dark trousers. Mr Taylor has appealed for witnesses to contact police. "Early indications suggest that this is a targeted attack but it's essential that we identify the motive as soon as possible," he added. Posted by: Seafarious 2007-04-05 |
|
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=185024 |