Robbers Stab Convenience Store Clerk 22 Times

A West Hills convenience store clerk, who had fled India because he believed his life was in danger, was stabbed 22 times and beaten by robbers, family members and police said Sunday.

The condition of Canoga Park resident Amolak Saini, 27, was upgraded from critical to guarded at West Valley Hospital on Sunday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

“He was almost dead,” said his brother Harpal Saini. “He has 22 cuts on his body. There are cuts all over his arms, chest, forehead and stomach--it’s very bad.”

The incident began about 1:45 a.m. Saturday when two youths armed with large kitchen knives walked into the 7-Eleven in the 22800 block of Saticoy Street in West Hills, Los Angeles police said.

Police said one of the men jumped over the counter and stabbed Saini in the chest. Lt. Jeff Hulet said the attackers didn’t ask for money and Saini offered no resistance. A second robber unplugged the cash register and took it with him, Hulet said.

The assailants then dragged Saini outside the store, where a third attacker helped beat and stab the clerk.

“At that time he was helpless, lying there on the ground,” Harpal Saini said. “They almost killed him.”

A witness who saw the incident from a car came to Saini’s aid and drove him to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the robbers went back inside and ransacked the store, removing a second cash register and taking cigarettes, beer and wine, Hulet said. The robbers then left in separate cars.

Saini, a Sikh, fled India in July because of religious violence, his brother said. He had been a college student in New Delhi but feared his life was in danger because of religious violence.

Saini, who applied for political asylum, received authorization to work from the Immigration and Naturalization Service on March 25 and the next day got a job working as cashier at 7-Eleven, his brother said.

“He had just gotten the job. He just wanted to work,” Saini said. “He came to America because it is safer than India.”

Despite the attack, Saini has no intention of returning to India, his brother said. Saini plans to return to college with his family’s help when he recovers, Harpal Saini said.

“He still believes in America,” he said. “These things happen but it’s worse in India.”