Sikh beaten unconscious on sidewalk in New York

In what is considered to be a hate crime, a Sikh Limousine driver was beaten unconscious on a sidewalk in a New York suburb during the weekend by apparently drunken white youth.

At least one person has been arrested and police are on the look out for two others. The incident occurred on Saturday in the Richmond area of Queens that has a large immigrant population. The 54-year old, Rajinder Singh Khalsa, suffered multiple cuts, bruises and a broken nose. He said he and his cousin Gurcharan Singh were confronted by the youth who ridiculed their turbans, calling them ‘‘dirty curtain’’ and asking them to take them off.

Gurcharan, who owns a restaurant “Tandoori Express”, said they were walking towards the restaurant to have tea.

As they were passing by an Italian catering hall, the men, who appeared to be drunk, started using abusive language. ‘‘I told them that it is not a curtain but my turban and a religious symbol,’’ Gurcharan said. Khalsa said he tried to explain they were not Muslims but covered their heads because of respect for God. According to Gurcharan, the insults turned into violence when he said he would call 911, the police emergency telephone number. — (PTI)