Attack On Elderly Sikh Man Out On Morning Walk In NY Triggers Outrage, Governor Promises Action

During his early morning walk, a 70-year-old Sikh man was attacked in Queens, a borough in New York City in the state of New York, reported ABC7 New York on Monday, 4 April.

Hate crime but no arrests so far

The victim — identified by WABC as Nirmal Singh — was walking around 7 a.m. Sunday at 95th Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill when the assailant socked him in the nose, causing pain and bleeding, cops said.?The attacker did not say a word and fled after the assault, cops said.

The police said that the attack on Nirmal Singh was unprovoked, and left him with a broken nose and other bruises.?Singh was taken to an area hospital for an evaluation, police said.

WABC

It is being treated as a hate crime and an investigation is taking place actively, but no arrests have been made so far.?

Singh, in his native language Punjabi, spoke to Eyewitness News of ABC7 New York, saying that he was punched from behind when he was out on his morning walk on Sunday.?Singh — who was still wearing his bloodied jacket — told WABC that he had only been in the country for two weeks on a visitor visa, the outlet reported.

Attack triggered outrage

The incident has triggered outrage among the community and even New York authorities.

Bystander Gurinder Singh told the station he witnessed the aftermath of the attack.?“We have grandfathers and stuff and seeing such an elderly person being attacked and all bloodied up, and he was worried,” he said.

Twitter

Community activist Japneet Singh told the outlet that the members of the local community — especially those who wear turbans — have been targeted in hate crimes. “People come at us a certain way because of the way we look,” he said.

Even New York's Governor Kathy Hochul has extended her sympathies, promising that she "will find the perpetrator and hold them accountable" on Twitter.

People of the Sikh community have asked for more protection and police at a time of uncertainty. Those who live in the area say they will be keeping a close eye on the elderly and making sure they are not alone when they are outside.

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