'We Don't Wear That In This Country': Sikh Man Attacked In New York City For Donning Turban

The perpetrator of the hate crime is described by the police as a male aged between 25 and 35, with a dark complexion, slim build, approximately 5'9" tall, brown eyes, and black hair.

In a suspected incident of hate crime, a 19-year-old Sikh was attacked in New York City, United States, allegedly for wearing a turban while travelling on a shuttle bus. The attack left the youth injured. The assault occurred in the early hours of Sunday as the Sikh youth was commuting in a shuttle bus in Queens, a borough of New York City, reported by CBS News.

According to the police, the assailant approached the victim, demanding the removal of his turban, stating, "We don't wear that in this country, and take that mask off!" Subsequently, the attacker repeatedly struck the teen in the face, back, and the back of his head, resulting in minor cuts. The assailant also attempted to forcibly remove the victim's turban before disembarking from the bus and fleeing the scene on foot.

The suspect is described by the police as a male aged between 25 and 35, with a dark complexion, slim build, approximately 5'9" tall, brown eyes, and black hair. Authorities have reached out to the public for assistance in locating the suspect.

The incident is currently under investigation by the New York Police Department's hate crime unit, and it has been classified as a hate crime assault, according to NBC New York. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

The victim, who remains unnamed, declined further medical treatment at the scene, as mentioned in the police statement sent to The Messenger. Community activist Japneet Singh conveyed the victim's current state, stating, "Right now, the victim is very traumatized. The family is very scared for him," as reported by ABC7.

Despite refusing immediate treatment, the victim's injuries are severe enough that he will be unable to work for the next few days, as revealed by Singh. The Sikh Coalition, a national organization representing the minority community, confirmed their engagement with the survivor, offering support as needed. The organization emphasized the ongoing investigation by the NYPD into the incident as a hate crime, advocating for the importance of personal safety in public spaces for everyone, irrespective of their background.

[With PTI inputs.]