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Harnek Neki was assaulted outside his home in Wattle Downs, days before Christmas.
The man who was seriously injured in an attack in a southern Auckland suburb days before Christmas has been named as Punjabi talkback host, Harnek Neki.
Neki was left in critical condition and rushed to the hospital, needing surgery, after he was assaulted outside his home on Glenross Drive in Wattle Downs on December 23, around 10:20 p.m.
Sukhminder Singh, a family spokesman and colleague from Radio Virsa, a small Punjabi radio station in Papatoetoe, said Neki was on his way home when a group attacked his car.
“They broke his windows and I don’t know how he got out, but he was seriously injured. It had deep cuts, possibly from a sharp object, ”Singh said.
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He said it was not the first time Neki had been assaulted, claiming there was an assault outside an Auckland restaurant on his birthday in July.
Andy Jackson / Stuff
Police say Neki remains in critical but stable condition. (File image)
Singh claims that Neki had received numerous death threats due to an opinion he gave on his radio show.
While he declined to comment on whether that was related to his colleague’s recent attack, Singh said he was upset that people would go so far as to hurt someone for having a different opinion.
“This assault shouldn’t have happened in the first place, and having a different opinion shouldn’t allow anyone to be attacked.”
Police did not comment on possible motives for the attack.
Manukau Counties CIB Detective Inspector Chris Barry said they are following positive leads in their investigations and keeping an open mind as the circumstances of the incident and its motive are established.
Singh said Neki remains in critical but stable condition in hospital.
Cedar Park Superette store owner Uday Patel said the Glenross Dr neighborhood was shocked by the event.
“We couldn’t believe it when we found out. The store was closed by then, but when the police came the next day to ask for CCTV footage and we asked them what had happened, we were all shocked, ”Patel said.
“This is a very safe neighborhood, very quiet. So when something like this happens, everyone is nervous. He was attacked just outside his house, when he was getting out of his car; I can understand how scared people must feel right now. ”
Neighbors near Neki’s home said none of that has happened in their neighborhood.
A resident said he saw the sirens the night of the incident and thought it was a car accident.
“When you get mugged outside your own home, it’s scary.”
Anyone who has witnessed this incident or who has information that may aid the investigation and who has not yet spoken to police is urged to come forward, he said.
Individuals can contact Manukau County Police at (09) 261 1321 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555111.
