Akal Takht Calls for Stern Action in North Hollywood Hate Assault on Sikh

Amritsar, August 14Jugraj Singh Sandhu

The acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaaj, has strongly condemned the brutal hate attack on a 70-year-old Sikh man, S. Harpal Singh, in North Hollywood, California, USA. He urged the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and U.S. investigative agencies to ensure the culprit receives a strict and exemplary punishment.

According to reports, S. Harpal Singh was walking near Saticoy Street and Lankershim Boulevard when a man attacked him with a golf club, causing severe injuries. He is currently battling for his life in the hospital. The LAPD has arrested a suspect, but Jathedar Gargaaj stressed that the attacker’s motive must be fully exposed and the incident officially recorded as a hate crime.

Quoting the 2024 FBI Hate Crime Report, Gargaaj noted that while attacks on Sikhs in the U.S. have decreased slightly, Sikhs remain the third most targeted religious group, with 153 hate crimes recorded in 2024. He called for joint efforts in the U.S. and worldwide to spread awareness about Sikh identity and urged Sikh organizations in America to intensify outreach among locals.

The Jathedar also advised Sikhs abroad to remain united, demand better security in residential areas, and be prepared for self-defense, including responsible possession of arms where legal. Families were urged not to send elderly members out alone, and to prefer public parks or areas with other people present.

He emphasized that such attacks are not just on an individual but a direct challenge to the Sikh community’s dignity, calling for national-level seriousness in addressing them. Gargaaj also appealed to India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, to ensure through Indian missions in the U.S. that this case is treated as a hate crime and the perpetrator faces the full force of the law.

Reassuring S. Harpal Singh’s family, the Jathedar said the Akal Takht Sahib and the entire Sikh Panth stand in solidarity with them, and the matter will be raised at every possible level. He has also directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to officially communicate with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to press for stern action against the accused.