Punjabi radio host in Ontario received death threat days before driveway attack: police

A Punjabi radio host who was viciously beaten on a Brampton, Ont. driveway by three suspects wielding axes and a machete received a death threat a few days before the attack, Peel regional police revealed on Thursday.

“We were aware that the victim, a few days prior, received a death threat that was under an active investigation and that forms now part of this investigation to determine whether or not that is related to the incident that occurred,” Peel Supt. Sean Gormley said in an update.

Police said a safety plan was put in place after the threat was reported to them, but wouldn’t divulge any further details.

Gormley said it’s still not clear why Punjabi radio host and realtor Joti Singh Mann was targeted and attacked on the morning of Aug. 4, 2022.

“At this time, we don’t have a motive identified,” Gormley said, adding the suspects are all being sought for attempted murder.

Mann remains in hospital in stable condition with what Gormley described as “life-altering” injuries. But it could have been worse if the victim’s mother didn’t charge at the attackers, chasing them away, Gormley said.

“It’s not something we recommend,” he said of her brave intervention. “But the attack being witnessed by his mother is obviously a very emotional event. She ran out, if was pure reaction on her part, it certainly helped contribute to him still being here today.”

3rd Punjabi media personality to be targeted

Gormley was asked Thursday about reports  a stolen vehicle was recently seized from the victim’s home, and whether that may be linked.

“I am aware that there was a vehicle seized from the area of the victim’s residence a few months ago,” he confirmed. “At this time we are looking to see if that’s related to the incident that occurred last week. I don’t have any information to say that it is though.”

Gormley added that the attack on Mann is the third incident he’s aware of where a Punjabi media personality in the Ontario community was targeted.

All of the cases remain open, and Gormley said there’s no indication they are connected at this point.

“It’s very disturbing,” he said. “Whatever the motive, this is a completely egregious attack.”

Back in September 2021, shots were fired at well-known Punjabi media personality Joginder Bassi’s home in Brampton. No injuries were reported.

And in February 2022, Brampton-based radio host and realtor, Deepak Punj, was attacked by three unidentified men inside his studio.

The suspects reportedly tried to smash an empty beer bottle over his head. He suffered minor injuries.

Video of the brazen attack on Mann was captured by a surveillance camera.

It shows him getting into a white Jeep and closing the door. Seconds later a person dressed in black wearing a surgical mask shatters his driver’s seat window with an axe. Mann appears to open the door, trying to fend off the attacker with kicks, but two more suspects, also wearing black with their faces concealed, soon join the fray.

They pull him out of the vehicle by his leg and begin mercilessly hacking at him with axes and a machete. The besieged radio host desperately tries to get awau, but his attackers cling to him and continue to deliver blows with their respective weapons.

The struggle ensues and Mann ends up on the ground at the bottom on the driveway as the three suspects continue to attack him.

It only ends when his mother runs out to help, throwing a shoe at the fleeing suspects.