AMBALA: A 75-year-old
Sikh man has been attacked following a suspected racial attack in Queens, a borough in
New York
City in New York state of USA, leaving him severely injured on his face on Sunday morning, when he was walking to a
Gurdwara
Sahib (Sikh temple).
The man has been identified as
Nirmal Singh
, who came to the USA for the first time from Canada about two weeks ago to see the country.
As per the information, Nirmal Singh was walking on 95th Avenue and Lefferts Blvd. on Sunday morning in Queens's Richmond Hill area, when he was attacked from behind by miscreants on his face and causing him to fall to the ground, leaving him severely bleeding.
Some local residents witnessed Singh sitting with blood stains on his clothes and face on a bench on the street and clicked his photographs.
Harpreet Singh Toor
, chairman of Sikh Cultural Society told CBS New York media in New York, "He was just walking and a man came from behind and hit him on the face."
About the possibility of racial attack, hoping that the persons responsible for this crime would be caught soon, Toor said, "Any attack just because you look different is an attack against everybody, not just that person (who has been attacked) and it has to stop."
The place where Nirmal Singh is currently staying is at a short distance from the Gurdwara Sahib.
"My office is also aware of this incident in Richmond Hill earlier today, and we are contacting the NYPD to learn more details about this reported attack. Our thoughts are with him and we wish for nothing less than a full recovery", tweeted Queens Borough president Donovan Richards.
"This morning, a #Sikh worshipper on his way to the Gurdwara was brutally attacked in my district. This violence is horrific & needs to end. We stand with our Sikh community, our neighbors. We must come together to root out the hate that leaves too many communities feeling unsafe.", tweeted Adrienne Adams, speaker of New York City Council.
Gurdev
Singh Kang
, Human Rights Commissioner, New York City told the CBS, "Our uncles, our parents coming to pray at the Gurdwara are now going to feel scared because they do not know about who is going to be victimised." Kang said they are calling on the New York City Mayor and Police Commissioner to look into this case.
To a query if this is a hate crime, Kang said, "Yes, it is not the only first incident that has happened in this area. It happened before too."
Meanwhile, USA-based Sikh Coalition tweeted, "The Sikh Coalition is aware of the reported assault on an elderly Sikh man in Queens, New York this morning. We are working quickly to engage the Richmond Hill sangat to learn more facts and details and assess what resources and support could be useful. We are extremely disturbed by the violent and heartbreaking images that are being shared on social media platforms."
In India, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president
Advocate Harjinder
Singh also condemned the incident and termed it as a racial attack on Sikhs.
Adv Harjinder Singh also called on the Government of India to take up the issue of racial attacks in concerned foreign countries and ensure the safety of Sikhs.
"I urge the Gurdwara management committees and the Sikh leaders in the USA to raise their voice strongly against these incidents. It is highly unfortunate that an elderly Sikh Nirmal Singh was attacked by miscreants in New York and strict action should be taken against the culprits. USA-based Sikh organisations should come forward to ensure punishment to the culprits of this incident so that no one would dare to commit such a crime in future", said SGPC president.
SGPC president said that the Punjabis, especially the Sikhs have made a great contribution to the progress of the USA and the Sikhs have great respect for the people of every community.
"At the time of crisis, the Sikhs carry out public welfare services on humanitarian grounds from the
Gurdwaras
, but sadly, Sikhs who seek the welfare of all are being subjected to hateful violence", said SGPC president.
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