The Incident Leaves Kurukshetra Village in Mourning, Raises Concerns Over Safety of Indians Abroad
CHANDIGARH: A brutal knife attack in France has claimed the life of 35-year-old Harpal Singh, also known as Harry, a Non-Resident Indian from Sataura village in Pehowa, Kurukshetra. The incident was reportedly captured in a CCTV which went viral sending waves of grief across his village in Haryana and sparked renewed calls for stronger protection of Indians living overseas.
According to eyewitnesses and initial investigations, Harpal was with a friend when they were suddenly attacked by a group of unidentified assailants in the early hours of September 25 near a busy neighborhood in eastern France. The attackers, reported to be three or four young men, stabbed Harpal multiple times before fleeing. The disturbing video circulating on social media shows Harpal collapsing on the street, while his friend Rajesh Kumar, (28) from Punjab, sustained deep injuries and remains in critical condition at a hospital in Reims.
Emergency services arrived swiftly, but Harpal succumbed to his injuries at the scene due to severe blood loss. French authorities have launched a homicide investigation, reviewing CCTV footage and forensic evidence to identify the culprits. No arrests have been made so far.
Back in Sataura, the tragic news has devastated the community. Harpal had moved to France more than a decade ago in search of better opportunities and was working in construction and logistics. He regularly sent money to his family, supporting his wife Priya and their two young children, aged seven and four. The family members were eagerly waiting for his return on Diwali. “He was our strength,” said his grieving wife, struggling to explain the tragedy to their children.
Neighbors and relatives gathered outside the Singh household, offering prayers and support to the bereaved family. The village sarpanch confirmed that efforts are underway to bring Harpal’s body back to India for the last rites. The incident has revived painful memories of a similar case in 2023, when another youth from the region, Vikram Sharma, died in a workplace accident in France. That case highlighted the long and difficult process of repatriation of bodies and securing compensation for families.
The killing has also drawn attention to a worrying rise in violent incidents involving Indians in France. Advocacy groups have reported an increase in assaults on South Asians in recent years, often linked to street altercations or urban crime. France hosts an estimated 100000 Indians, many of whom work in low-wage sectors where they are more exposed to risks.
While the French police continue their investigation, the grief-stricken family and community in Haryana can only hope that justice will be served, and that measures will be taken to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
