A 19-year-old youth has been arrested and faces hate crime costs for his alleged involvement in assaults on three Sikh males in Queens right here, together with the brutal assault of an aged Sikh vacationer early this month, that was condemned as “deeply disturbing” by the Consulate General of India.
Vernon Douglas of Brownsville was arrested on Thursday in Brooklyn and charged with a number of counts of theft, assault, aggravated harassment and hate crimes, the Queens Chronicle reported.
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On April 3, Douglas allegedly approached 70-year-old Nirmal Singh close to the nook of Lefferts Boulevard and ninety fifth Avenue and punched him within the face within the unprovoked assault. The attacker fled the scene on foot and the incident was taken over by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.
The pictures shared on social media confirmed Singh with a bloodied turban, face and garments.
Singh was a “tourist visiting from India” and he was in a position to stroll again after the assault to the cultural centre the place he had been staying since he arrived in New York City. He suffered a damaged nostril and bruises to his face.
The Consulate General of India in New York had condemned the assault on the aged Sikh man terming it as “deeply disturbing,” and mentioned they have been in contact with the police who’re investigating this heinous hate crime.
The Sikh Coalition mentioned that Singh selected to return to India after the assault to be able to be along with his household.
The arrested accused was additionally concerned within the assault on two Sikh males in the identical neighbourhood within the metropolis this week, the report mentioned.
Douglas and one other suspect, who was arrested earlier, on Tuesday, attacked two Sikh males, eradicating their non secular headwear, robbing them of their cash and placing them on the top and physique with closed fists and a picket stick.
The assault occurred “very close” to the realm the place septuagenarian Singh was punched.
While 20-year outdated Hezekiah Coleman was taken into custody on the identical day from an deserted home close to the scene of the incident, Douglas remained at massive.
New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the primary Punjabi American ever elected to New York State Office, tweeted “I am gratified to report that the NYPD has apprehended the second suspect in Tuesday’s heinous crime against the Sikh community.” “This comes on the heels of the other suspect being formally charged this morning with hate crimes,” she mentioned.
She had earlier famous that there was an alarming 200% rise in hate crimes in opposition to the Sikh group lately. She handed a historic decision whereby New York State recognises April as Punjabi month.
