Amritsar – Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has strongly denounced the horrific racial assault on a 70-year-old Sikh man in California, USA, calling it a deeply disturbing act that demands urgent justice.
The victim, Harpal Singh, a retired mathematics professor, was viciously attacked on August 4 near Lankershim Gurdwara Sahib in North Hollywood by an unidentified assailant armed with a golf club. Singh sustained severe head and facial injuries, including brain bleeding and extensive eye damage. He has undergone multiple surgeries and remains in critical condition in the ICU of a nearby hospital.
“This brutal attack on an elderly Sikh in California is deeply unfortunate,” Dhami said, urging the Government of India to take up the matter with US authorities and ensure the safety of Sikhs worldwide. “Sikhs hold high positions globally and have contributed immensely to the progress of every country they live in. Such hate-driven acts have deeply hurt the sentiments of the global Sikh community,” he added.
The American Sikh Council (ASC) expressed grave concern, calling the assault a likely hate crime. Citing FBI data from 2024, the ASC noted that Sikhs are the third most targeted religious group in the United States. The council has demanded a thorough investigation by local law enforcement and swift prosecution of the attacker.
The incident has triggered outrage among Sikh communities across the globe, with many highlighting the need for stronger laws and community safety measures to combat hate crimes.
