US: Sikh man dies after assault in New York, Indian-American mayor expresses grief
Washington, October 23: A Sikh man, Jasmer Singh, lost his life in New York after a disturbing incident. The tragedy unfolded when Mr. Singh's car collided with another vehicle, occupied by Gilbert Augustin, last week. Both cars suffered damage. As Mr. Singh attempted to call 911 to report the accident, an altercation ensued as a man, allegedly Augustin, seized Mr. Singh's phone, saying, "No police, no police." The dispute escalated, with Mr. Singh eventually retrieving his phone from Augustin, who responded by punching him three times in the head and face.
Jasmer Singh fell to the ground, hitting his head, which proved fatal. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition and succumbed to a brain injury.
Jasmer Singh loved his city and deserved so much more than his tragic death. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want our Sikh community to know you have more than our condolences. You have our sacred vow that we reject the hatred that took this innocent life and we will protect you. pic.twitter.com/JvhhmDJ9v2 — Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 22, 2023
The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, condemned the tragic incident and assured the Sikh community of protection. In a statement on social media, he expressed, "Jasmer Singh loved his city and deserved so much more than his tragic death. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want our Sikh community to know you have more than our condolences. You have our sacred vow that we reject the hatred that took this innocent life, and we will protect you."
Mayor Adams further mentioned plans for his team to meet with Sikh leaders to address the needs of the community during this challenging time. The 30-year-old man responsible for the attack was arrested and charged with manslaughter and assault.
This incident is the second recent assault on a Sikh individual in New York. In a separate occurrence, a man assaulted a Sikh teenager on a bus, attempting to remove his turban, and stating, "We don't wear that in this country." The attacker was charged with assault in the third degree as a hate crime and aggravated harassment in the second degree.
_e1c073a9223668c4cb3fa78d65e1c8db_1280X720.webp)
These hate crimes have raised concerns, prompting Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, an Indian-origin official leading the city of Hoboken in New Jersey, to denounce them as "reprehensible." Mayor Bhalla's statement underscores the escalating hate crimes targeting the Sikh community in the United States. Just days earlier, he revealed his experience with threatening letters directed at him and his family, motivated by his Sikh faith.
Mayor Bhalla expressed distress over recent incidents in Richmond Hill, New York, where members of the Sikh community have fallen victim to violence and hatred. He highlighted an incident in which a Sikh man was assaulted, and there was an attempt to forcibly remove his turban. Tragically, another elderly Sikh individual faced a violent assault that led to his untimely death.
One of the well-publicized cases involved a 19-year-old Sikh boy in New York, who was assaulted while wearing a turban on a shuttle bus. The 26-year-old assailant was arrested and charged with a hate crime.
Mayor Bhalla, the only Sikh American Mayor in the United States, strongly condemned these acts of violence, emphasizing their contradiction to American values of unity, diversity, and acceptance. He called for unity in reaffirming a commitment to compassion and understanding for all community members.
"In these moments, it is important that we come together to reaffirm our shared commitment to fostering a climate of understanding and compassion for our friends and neighbors everywhere," he stressed.
Mayor Bhalla, a public official in Hoboken, pledged to stand against all forms of hatred, intolerance, and discrimination, emphasizing the strength of diversity in shaping the collective identity of the nation.
- With inputs from agencies
