Anup
Singh, ex-SGPC (Sikh Parliament) prachark (preacher)
stabbed at Fresno airport. His appearance as a Sikh was a key factor in making
him a a target.
UNITED SIKHS is working with the authorities
to make sure that justice prevails The assailant has
been arrested and not charged with hate crime
8th Dec 2011, Fresno, California: A 56 year
old Sikh preacher, S. Anup Singh was attacked by a 26-year-old white man named
Mitchell Dufur at the Fresno airport earlier this week. This terrifying
incident that has left the Sikh community in a shock. According to the Fresno
Police Department, a 56-year old Sikh man from India was seated near the
Transportation Security Administration terminal waiting to board his plane
when he was stabbed. There was no communication between the victim and the
assailant. The Sikh traveller suffered a minor cut to his upper torso, and was
treated at the airport prior to resuming his journey back to UK.
Anup Singh, UNITED
SIKHS team spoke to a Fresno resident Bakhtawar Singh, an eyewitness to this
fearsome incident who had gone to drop the victim, Anup Singh. Bhaktawar Singh
said, “This young man came forward and lunged at Bhai Saheb, who donned an
open flowing beard and hit him with a knife just below the collar bone. Few
minutes before the incident, I saw him going towards his bag and taking
something out but I didn’t know that he was going to stab. I don’t sport a
full flowing beard and I think that, I was spared because I didn’t look like
one of the images being flashed on Television screens today. Blood was oozing
out from Anup Singh’s wound and the and the assailant ran towards the exit. I
think the reason that I was spared is because I don’t sport a full flowing
beard and don't look like one of the images that are flashed on Television
screens today. ”
Meanwhile, the medical doctors arrived and
Anup Singh Ji was bandaged and he chose to travel to his country, the United
Kingdom. According to sources, the assailant has not admitted to any charges
and motives for this act as yet and has been charged with minor clauses – 1.
Carrying weapon at the airport and 2. Assault with weapon. This will allow him
to elude from any major punishment for this very heinous crime.
UNITED SIKHS has contacted the local
authorities and also elevated this incident at the federal level and will work
with them to make sure that justice prevails. Kashmir Singh, Director of
UNITED SIKHS, said, “We are in touch with Anup Singh and understand that he
was in a state of shock and thanks god who protected him from this not taking
a turn that would have cost him his life."
In an interview with Kashmir Singh, Anup
Singh also said, “I saw hatred in the assailant's eyes. I urge all Sikhs while
travelling to or out of the United States to be careful and alert as this
incident has literally shocked all of us. Clearly one can see as to why I was
the prime target and no one else around me and it is primarily because of my
appearance. Donning our Kakkars ( Sikh articles of faith) is our birth right.
Its a shame that even today within the United States hatred and prejudice are
still prevalent and their casualties are innocent people"
Earlier this year, two elderly Sikh men were
gunned down in suburban Sacramento on March 4, Surinder Singh, 65, and Gurtej
Atwal, 78 when they were walking through a neighbourhood in Elk Grove. Police
are investigating the fatal shooting as a possible hate crime potentially
linked to the men’s appearance. Both men wore turbans and long beards.
Th incidenct has once again highlighted the
issue of Sikhs being repeatedly targeted for their appearance and dress code.
A lot of these incidents also go unreported and that does not help the cause
either. UNITED SIKHS advises Sikhs and all other minorities who suffer racial
profiling and hate crimes not to treat such incidents lightly. Victims of hate
crimes and racial profiling are advised to contact UNITED SIKHS to advocate on
their behalf. You may report a hate/bias crime/incident to UNITED SIKHS at
http://unitedsikhs.org/hatecrime/
Your support is indispensable for UNITED
SIKHS to fight for justice and recognize the human race as one.
Support our advocacy work to put an end to
hate and discrimination against Sikhs.
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