Attack on Sikh man probed as hate crime

A 68-year-old Sikh man has been brutally assaulted by two persons in California, prompting the police to launch a “hate crime” probe into the latest such incident in the country.

Amrik Singh Bal was attacked on Saturday morning in California’s Fresno area, a report in the Fresno Bee said.

The incident happened as Mr Bal was waiting alone for a ride to work when two white men stopped their car in front of him and started yelling obscenities at him, Fresno Sergeant Greg Noll said.

Fearing for his safety, Mr Bal tried crossing the street but the suspects backed up their car and hit Mr Bal with back bumper.

The two men then got out of the car and attacked Mr Bal, hitting him in the face and upper body.He fell to the ground and hit his head.

During the assault, one of the suspects yelled “Why are you here ”, the report said. The suspects fled only after they heard another vehicle approaching. Mr Bal who was taken to a local hospital, suffered abrasions to his nose and right hand and a broken collar bone.

Mr Noll said the police have started a hate-related criminal investigation into the attack on Mr Bal adding that the Fresno police would coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI for this case. The attack is the latest in a line of hate crimes against Sikhs in America.

Earlier this month, a gurdwara in California was vandalised with hateful graffiti, including the word “ISIS”, in the aftermath of mass shooting in San Bernardino.

In September, a Sikh American was assaulted in a suburb outside of Chicago after being called “Bin Laden”.

In 2014, Sandeep Singh was run over and dragged 30 feet after being called a “terrorist”.