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Sikh-American U.S. Federal Attorney to Prosecute Times Square Bomber
NEWS REPORTS
Sikh-American U.S. Federal Attorney Preet Singh Bharara, spearheading the prosecution of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, now has another high-profile terrorism case in his hands - the Times Square bombing plot involving Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad.
The job of delivering a conviction on 30-year-old Shahzad will fall on Harvard and Columbia-educated 'legal eagle' Preet Bharara, who is one of the 93 US Attorneys appointed by the US President Barack Obama in May 2009.
Following Shahzad's dramatic arrest over the botched Times Square bombing plot on Saturday last, 41-year-old Preet said on Tuesday that "the dedicated agents, detectives, and prosecutors in this case will continue to follow every lead and use every tool to keep the people of New York City safe."
He also vowed that "we will not rest until every terrorist, whether homegrown or foreign-based, is neutralised and held to account."
Preet heads the US Attorney's office for the Southern District in New York, which covers Manhattan, where the botched bombing took place, and John F Kennedy International Airport, where terror suspect Shahzad was arrested at the last minute as he attempted to flee the United States to Pakistan.
Under Preet there are over 200 lawyers who handle some of America's most prominent cases, like trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the prosecution of Bernard L Madoff for his multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.
He is also currently handling the prosecution against the Galleon Group, one of America's largest insider trading scam where the defendants include Sri Lankan Raj Rajaratnam and Indian-Americans Anil Kumar and Rajiv Goel.
Previously an assistant attorney in the Southern District, Preet made his name as the Senate staffer who helped drive Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez from office by uncovering and investigating the Bush Administration's firing of eight prosecutors for allegedly political purposes.
Preet Singh Bharara was born in Ferozepur, Punjab, and his parents immigrated to the United States in 1970 when he was an infant. He grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Harvard in 1990 and Columbia Law School in 1993.
"As a naturalised American citizen from [Punjab], Mr Bharara also brings a diversity of background to the post," the New York Times said after the US Senate confirmed him as the United States attorney in Manhattan.
His father, a Sikh, was born in what is now Pakistan, before the partition.
[Courtesy: PTI]
May 6, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Dr..Birinder Singh Ahluwalia (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), May 06, 2010, 5:52 AM.
I am certain he will do a good job.
2: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), May 06, 2010, 10:43 AM.
I know, I know, I should respect his choice to not keep his Sikh form intact - but I would be lying if I told you that I am ecstatic that Preet Singh Bharara will bring honour to Sikh-Americans and help improve our visibility. Just imagine if he was a Sikh with a turban! What a wonderful opportunity it would be to dispel the false media image that ties turbans with terrorists. I am happy for his individual achievement, unfortunately can't say the same from the community's perspective.
3: Harbans Lal (Arlington, Texas, U.S.A.), May 06, 2010, 10:46 AM.
Preet is one of the nation's most high-profile prosecutors who our Sikh community has failed to recognize till now. Thanks to your reporters for recognizing widening diversity and thus expansion in the panth and its contributions in the global village.
4: Harinder (Jalandhar, Punjab), May 06, 2010, 11:38 AM.
May he protect his country from all harms that come its way.
5: Surinder Sikand (Foster City, California, U.S.A.), May 06, 2010, 12:33 PM.
Preet Singh Bharara makes us Sikhs look good in the eyes of America and in general all over the world by discharging his obligations true to the word and spirit of the laws of his country, the United States of America. We feel very proud of him.
6: Jasbir Singh Sethi (Houston, Texas, U.S.A.), May 06, 2010, 12:42 PM.
I pray that Waheguru ji bestows His wisdom that Preet may courageously follow the highest principles of Sikhism: 1) Na ko beri na begana; 2)Sant ubaaran dusht bidaaran.
7: Irvinder Singh Babra (Brampton, Ontario, Canada ), May 07, 2010, 7:14 AM.
Preet Singh Bharara is one of a new generation of Sikh nation-builders around the world.
8: Kanwarjeet Singh (Franklin Park, New Jersey, U.S.A.), May 08, 2010, 10:01 AM.
Congratulations to Preet ... though I wish he was saabat soorat!
9: Manraj Singh (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), May 11, 2010, 8:40 AM.
We are very proud of you, Preet. I have no doubt that you will do a bangup job.