Representational Picture/Reuters
In a suspected hate crime, a 19-year-old Sikh was assaulted and injured in New York for carrying a turban whereas travelling in a shuttle bus, the police stated.
The assault happened early on Sunday when the Sikh teen was driving a shuttle bus in Queens, a borough of New York Metropolis, CBS Information channel reported.
In line with the police, the suspect approached the sufferer, asking him to take away his turban and stated, “We don’t wear that in this country and take that mask off!”
The attacker then repeatedly punched the teenager in his face, again, and the again of his head, inflicting minor cuts. He additionally tried to take away the sufferer’s turban from his head earlier than getting off the bus and leaving the scene on foot, the report stated.
Police described the suspect as “a male, 25-35 years of age, dark complexion, slim build, approximately 5’9″ tall, with brown eyes and black hair,” and sought the general public’s assist to seek out him.
The New York Police Division hate crime unit is investigating the incident, and the police division is asking it a hate crime assault, NBC New York TV channel reported.
No arrests have been made within the case but, The Messenger information portal reported.
The sufferer, who was not named, refused additional medical therapy on the scene, police stated within the assertion despatched to The Messenger.
“Right now, the victim is very traumatised,” neighborhood activist Japneet Singh was quoted as saying by ABC7 tv station. “The family is very scared for him,” Singh added.
Although he refused therapy on the scene, Singh says the sufferer was injured badly sufficient that he gained’t be capable of work for the subsequent few days.
“We are in contact with the survivor and working with him to provide support as needed; he has requested anonymity for the time being. Our current understanding is that NYPD is, appropriately, investigating this incident as a hate crime,” Sikh Coalition, a nationwide organisation representing the minority neighborhood, stated in a publish on X.
“As we stand alongside our allies from all communities, we will continue to insist that no one should have to fear for their personal safety while simply existing in public,” the publish added.