Sikh prof targeted in US hate attack

New York, USA: A Sikh professor at the Columbia University has been attacked and injured by a mob of up to 30 people who called him “Osama” and “terrorist” during a brutal assault which the police is investigating as a hate crime.

School of International and Public Affairs professor Prabhjot Singh was assaulted on Saturday night while walking in the Harlem neighbourhood near here.

“There was a group of 25 to 30 young men. One of them said, ‘Get him, Osama’,” 31-year-old Singh, who suffered a fractured jaw, was quoted as saying by the New York Daily News. “I got punched directly in the face about three times.” Singh said he was on the ground being kicked when passersby intervened, saving him. “I’m grateful to them,” said Singh, who is married and has a young son. “It could have been a lot worse.” Singh had returned from dinner, dropping his wife and one-year-old son at home before going for a walk.

While being attacked, he saw one of the assailants put his arm inside his coat as if reaching for a gun. Singh was unable to provide any descriptions about his assailants to police. Singh told police that his assailants taunted him and beat him, calling him “Osama” and “terrorist” as they pulled at his long beard.

“I’ve written about this in the past. But it’s one thing to go from writing about something to receiving an assault. It’s scary,” he said. Singh has been discharged from hospital.

Source: The Tribune