Richmond Hill Gurdwara chief apologises to injured cop after Diwali fireworks chaos, arrests
PTC Web Desk: Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations at the Sikh Cultural Society Gurdwara in Richmond Hill, New York, ended on a sour note after illegal fireworks were allegedly set off outside the premises. Several youths were arrested and the police reportedly recovered illegal weapons from some of them. One police officer was injured.
The incident has also added to a wider worry among the community. After Diwali this year, many Hindu temples and gurdwaras in the UK, the US and Canada were left with fireworks debris and garbage outside.
Jatinder Singh, president of the Sikh Cultural Society Inc, Richmond Hill, called a press conference to condemn the violence and the breach of law. He offered an unconditional apology to the injured officer.
According to him, thousands of devotees had come to the gurdwara to pray and the celebrations were spoiled by a few troublemakers. He said the gurdwara management had agreed with the local administration that no fireworks would be used, but some youths knowingly ignored the restriction.
“Had this happened in India, the police might have dealt with the offenders strictly. However, the police here handled the situation within the framework of the law,” he said. He added that the episode had been embarrassing for police personnel from the diaspora and had hurt the image of the Punjabi and Indian community. Similar disturbances, he said, were seen at all four gurdwaras in Richmond Hill.
Jatinder Singh demanded strict action against those involved and said the community must respect the laws of the country it lives in. “We may have arrived here in large numbers, but that does not give us the right to violate the law of the land,” he said. He warned that a handful of irresponsible people could bring disrepute to everyone and close doors of opportunity for others in the diaspora.
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He also pointed to the attitude of some young people. While he was speaking to the media, a youth revved his motorcycle loudly and sped past the venue. “You can see how much heed this younger generation pays to our requests,” he remarked. He said that people caught breaking the law often turn to community leaders for help afterwards.
Jatinder Singh also brought up the shootings and sword fights reported during a Nagar Kirtan in Yuba City, California, saying such incidents further damage the community’s reputation. He cautioned that the diaspora could end up paying a heavy price for the conduct of a few, and said that when fireworks were banned, youths should have followed the rules instead of taking the law into their own hands.
- PTC NEWS
