Councilmember Avella and UNITED SIKHS Call for Police to Apprehend Third Attacker in Crime Against Sikh

Jackson Heights, New York, USA: New
York City Councilmember Tony Avella and UNITED SIKHS called on police
to vigorously pursue the third attacker who remains at large after
Jasmir Singh, a 21-year-old Sikh college student, was savagely attacked
and stabbed in his left eye on 18th January 2009. They also called on
Police to continue to investigate the bias motivations of the attack.
Police and the Queens District Attorney’s office are continuing their
investigation and interviewed the victim, Jasmir Singh, for a second
time on Friday, taking him to the scene of the incident to recreate the
attack.

In his speech, Councilman
Avella asked New Yorkers to stand together against hate crimes and
asked any witnesses to the attack to step forward to assist in catching
the third assailant. He called on police to return to more active
community- based policing.
“Its up to each and every New Yorker to stand up when a hate crime
takes place and say ‘we will not tolerate this in our city’. What
Jasmir has experienced, no one should experience. Whenever one person
is a victim of a hate crime, we all are victims of that crime,” Mr.
Avella said during a joint press conference today at the scene of the
crime in Jackson Heights, NY.

Jiwan Singh, (in a brown turban) Father of Victim, Jasmir
Jaspreet
Singh, Staff Attorney for UNITED SIKHS told the press conference, “New
Yorkers must be vigilant and vocal against all crimes. Communities
cannot accept such violent attacks against innocent people, and we ask
that the District Attorney prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous
act to the fullest extent of the law.”

Jiwan
Singh, the father of the victim, commented, “My son’s attackers showed
no mercy towards my son. They repeatedly stabbed and hit him and
seriously endangered his life. There should be no leniency for such
violent criminals.” Also speaking at the conference, Sikh community
leader Swaranjit Singh commented, “These crimes are a result of
ignorance. Queens is the most diverse county in the nation, and we must
learn to appreciate each other’s differences.” Gurdip Singh, a Sikh
community leader, stated “Sikh Americans are peace-loving and want the
same things as every other American: life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.”

Gurdip Singh, Sikh Community Leader, addressing the media, at the scene of the crime
Jasmir
Singh is still recovering from the attack and is unable to see from his
left eye. Commenting on the vicious attack, Kuldip Singh, Director,
UNITED SIKHS, stated, “The Sikh community seeks the support of all New
Yorkers to make our neighborhoods and streets safe for everyone.
Unfortunate incidents like this one should bring people together to
have one voice against crime.”