Posted on: 02-07-07 17:29:55
Here's the link of the said (and sad) news story:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,,21995351-5006009,00.html
Although, it's none of my concern what happens in Australia, but being a Sikh myself I feel so disheartened whenever such incidences happen anywhere in the world. It's so sad and disheartening that these attacks still happen in a civilized society that calls themselves multicultural. Also, the irony is that the Government agencies still do not fully aware about the significance of 'Turban' in a Sikhs' life.
I strongly believe the attackers should be punished and prosecuted on account of racist behaviour.
Preet...
Here are the contents of the link, as I think it couldn't be pasted above properly:
Police hunt turban bandits
By Neil Mercer
July 01, 2007 12:00am
SYDNEY police have circulated CCTV images of a Sikh having a turban ripped from his head while travelling on a public bus after he complained officers did not take the incident seriously.
Inderjeet Singh Dhaliwal said he was distraught when two young men stole his turban - of great religious significance for Sikhs - at Seven Hills as he travelled to work.
The men, who had possibly been drinking, ran off the bus, leaving an embarrassed Mr Dhaliwal to cover his head with a piece of cloth while another passenger laughed.
Mr Dhaliwal reported the attack immediately, but said police did not comprehend the religious significance of the turban or how traumatised he was.
"They said: 'It is not an assault - it is a minor theft,''' he said. "They asked how much the turban was worth.
"I was so disheartened when they talked to me.''
He said police had only taken the March 31 incident seriously after community groups raised the matter with his local MP, Nathan Rees, who in turn wrote to the minister.
Police had subsequently asked him to make a formal statement. "They said they had upgraded it from a theft to an assault or a race hate crime,'' Mr Dhaliwal said.
Police told him CCTV footage was being circulated in a bid to identify the young men.
However, the quality of the footage from the bus-mounted cameras - introduced to stop such attacks - is poor and has so far yielded little.
Mr Dhaliwal said he had also received a letter from Ministry for Police director general Les Tree, assuring him the matter was receiving attention.
Mr Dhaliwal, a father of two from Westmead, called on NSW Police to be better trained in "cultural and religious awareness'' as the officers appeared ignorant about the significance of the turban.
He was backed by the Australian Sikh Association which said: "The turban is a religious symbol. It is part of the faith that you keep your head covered at all times.''
Spokesman Kuldeep Singh said ripping it from someone's head was "very offensive. It is like taking a part of your body. It should be taken very seriously.''
He said people should remember that 83,000 Sikhs died in two world wars, fighting with British and Australian forces.
Each had worn a turban into battle.
A police spokesman described the incident as "serious''.
He said police were looking for a man described as Aboriginal in appearance, in his early to mid-20s, about 178cm tall, with a goatee.
He was wearing a light coloured hat, a T-shirt with a Nautica insignia and white running shoes.
Anyone with information should contact Blacktown police.
Quote:
Originally posted by febpreet
"They said: 'It is not an assault - it is a minor theft,''' he said. "They asked how much the turban was worth.
That s a pathetic attitude shown by the officer without realizing religious sentiments. Moreover, if bus cameras are not of good enough quality to yield any positive results, then why to burden tax payer?
