Two Sikh Men Reportedly Attacked In New York, Second Attack On The Community In Ten Days
In a shocking incident, two Sikh men were attacked and robbed in Queens, New York.
The incident took place on Tuesday, in the same area where an elderly Sikh man was assaulted last week.
One person has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Indian Consulate termed the attack on two Sikh men 'deplorable'.
"Assault on two Sikh gentlemen in Richmond Hills, New York today is deplorable. We have approached the local authorities & New York City Police Department in the matter. Understand police complaint filed & one person arrested. We are in touch with community members. Ready to offer all assistance to the victims," read the statement by the Consulate General.
Second incident in the same area??
The Sikh Coalition said that the two Sikh individuals were attacked and robbed in Richmond Hill, Queens Tuesday. The attack happened ¡°very close¡± to the area where septuagenarian Nirmal Singh was punched in an unprovoked assault on April 3.
The Sikh Coalition said that out of respect for their privacy, it was not sharing the names or images of the two Sikh individuals, who are responsive and getting medical care.
However, video footage shared on social media showed the two individuals surrounded by and being attended to by locals and police personnel. One of the injured is seeing sitting on the side of the road, while another is standing next to him, covering his injury near his eye with a cloth. In the video, the two Sikh men are seen without turbans on their head.
The Sikh Coalition said it is in direct touch with the New York Police Department Hate Crimes Task Force, who has shared that one suspect is in custody while the search is on for another attacker.
¡°Law enforcement believes both men were targeted for being Sikh, and the attacks are being investigated as anti-Sikh hate crimes,¡± the Sikh Coalition said.
¡°We also remind everyone that no one community is deserving of--or responsible for--hate crimes. In these difficult moments, anti-Black racism is directly harmful to our shared efforts to stop the hate violence that endangers us all.¡±
Increase in hate crimes against Sikhs
In January this year, a Sikh taxi driver was assaulted at the JFK International Airport, with the attacker allegedly calling him ¡°turbaned people¡± and to ¡°go back to your country¡±.?
There are around 500,000 to 700,000 Sikhs living in the US, and ever since the 9/11 terror attacks, members of the community have come under increasing hate crime attacks, as they are often mistaken to be Muslims.
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