Parveen Kaur - 3 Videos - Sikhs Arrested in Attack on Dera Head Case

Time and events seem to have gotten away from me. This has been sitting in my drafts folder for several days. Sorry for the delay. The second video is with the family of Bibi Parveen Kaur, whose case I am following and who is in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope in yours, as well.

This was posted in IHRO.

There are videos of interviews with the families of those arrested in the Case of Attempted Assassination of Dera Head Case

3 Videos - Sikhs Arrested in Attack on Dera Head Case

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

WE just wanted to inform you that three new videos have been added to
Largest Punjab based Sikh Multimedia Website, http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/

(Video - 1)
Bhai DaljitSingh with family of Bhai Swarn Singh village Kot Dharmu,
District Mansa. Swarn Singh had made a bid to assassinate dera sauda
sirsa (dss) head gurmeet ram raheem. Swarn Singh is presently in
Karnal Jail. (Dated 20 March, 2008).

Play Video:http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/shf/2008_03_20_BDS_in_home_%20Bhai_Swaran_singh_Kot_Dharmu.html
If This Links Do not Work - Visit http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/

(Video - 2)
Bhai Daljit Singh with Family of Bibi Parveen at Village Bhame Kalan,
District Mansa. Parveen Kaur is niece of Shaheed Bhai Lashman Singh
Babbar (Alias Bhai Bashir Mohammad). Parveen is charged with offence
of knowingly keeping explosive used to make assassinate bid on the
life of dss head. (Dated 20 March 2008)

Play Video:http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/shf/2008_03_20_BDS_in_home_%20Bibi_parveen_kaur_Bhamme_Kalan.html

If This Links Do not Work - Visit http://www.sikhsiyasat.com

(Video - 3)
Bhai DaljitSingh with family of Hushiar Singh village Jhanda Kalan
District Mansa. with offence of knowingly keeping explosive used to
make assassinate bid on the life of dss head. (Dated 20 March 2008)

Play Video:http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/shf/2008_03_20_BDS_in_home_%20Bhai_Hoshiar_singh_Jhanda_kala.html
If This Links Do not Work - Visit http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/

Keep Visiting:

http://www.sikhshahadat.com/

http://www.bhindranwale.net/

http://www.sikhsiyasat.com/

http://www.sikhstudentsfederation.com/

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UPDATE on Gurinder Singh

A few days ago, I posted a story about this young Sikh boy, Gurinder Singh who turned up abandoned in London and a family that claimed he was their kinapped son. Since then, another family, this time in Punjab, has stepped forward to claim him. The rub here seems to be that the reputed father and mother, who are separated. are each illegally in different countries. An uncle has, therefore, stepped forward to claim this unfortunate child. An uncle is, I believe, a close enough relative to perform a DNA test on. Let it be done at once! This little boy needs his family as soon as possible.

Something else seems very strange here. Gurinder seems to be either unable or unwilling to give anyone any clue as to his family. Even if he was kidnapped three years ago, I know from my experience with my own son that children of that age are quite aware of everything going on around them.. Is he just being stubborn? Or has he been so severely taumatised that he has amnesia? Or is he afraid to talk? Or is it something else entirely? This is a mystery that needs to be solved.

This seems to be the week of the exposed kesh.

From the Daily Mail:

Indian police probe 'human traffic' link to nine-year-old Sikh boy abandoned in London

Last updated at 12:10pm on 4th April 2008

Abandoned: Gurinder Singh has been unable to name any relatives to police and social workers

Police in India believe they are closer to solving the mystery of a nine-year-old Sikh boy abandoned in London.

The child, Gurinder Singh, was found in a health centre in Southall unable to speak English.

He told police he had been living in Southall for three years with his "white uncle".

However, doubts have been raised over this account due to the boy's lack of native tongue.

Since he was found, police and social workers have been trying to piece together the life of the boy, who was unable to name any relatives.

But police in India are taking seriously a claim by a family in the Punjab that the child is theirs.

At first they thought he was an orphan after he told British police that his parents had died before he came to the UK, around two or three years ago.

Police said he had never been to school and lacked the social skills of most children his age.

Kuldip Singh, a Sikh from Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Northern India, said he had no doubt Gurinder was in fact his nephew Gurinderjit.

"We have recognised the photos and the markings on him," he said. "It confirmed that the boy is our son. A DNA test could quickly confirm this."

Mr Singh, a farmer, said Gurinderjit is the son of his younger brother Mohinder. He claimed the boy's mother Deepinder Kaur, who is estranged from her husband, last month entered the UK illegally.

He said: "Kaur, along with Gurinderjit, went to Malaysia then to France and later entered England in the second week of March 2008. Gurinderjit's mother is involved in human trafficking. She abandoned him there after illegally entering that country."

Singh said the claim was being made on behalf of Gurinderjit's father who was living illegally in another western country.

"The father cannot come out openly, so being his elder brother I have come forward to claim my nephew," he said.

Local MP Avinash Rai Khanna, who is backing the family's claim, said he would be taking the case to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Police in India said they had liaised with British authorities and were forwarding information on the boy, which they said they were "taking seriously".

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Hood No Match For Turbanator

Here is a story from Australia that I found in a Google Alert today. Amandeep Singh's actions we can all be proud of.

From the Herald Sun:

Hood no match for Turbanator

A SIKH service station worker attacked by a bandit with a baseball bat says his turban saved his life.

Amandeep Singh weathered a rain of blows from the would-be robber, then managed to disarm him and use the bat to give as good as he got.

"I smacked him," he said. "After that, he fell to the ground.

"When he stood up, he said, 'I'm bleeding, I'm bleeding.'

Thwarted, the bandit fled empty-handed.

Mr Singh said the man entered the Coles Express about 12.10am yesterday and asked him for car oil.

Suddenly, he rushed Mr Singh, repeatedly punching him and striking him in the head and face with the sawn-off bat.

"He just started beating me with his fists and then he pulled out a baseball bat," Mr Singh told the Herald Sun.

"I am a Sikh, and I wear a turban. He hit me on the turban with the bat, and somehow I managed to grab the bat from his hand and I hit him back.

"He came rushing towards me, and I knew something was wrong. All I know is, my turban saved my life."

The 25-year-old TAFE student spent the night in Maroondah Hospital, where he was treated for facial injuries including a suspected broken nose and severe cuts and bruises.

But he said the attack would not stop him from returning to work at the outlet in Stud Rd, Wantirna South.

"I'm not a coward, so I will be going back to work. I'll be back there on Saturday," he said.

Sen-Det Paul Cosgrove, of Knox police, said Mr Singh had been forced to defend himself from a vicious and brazen attack, and had reacted bravely.

"It's fairly nasty, and there's a fair bit of blood everywhere," Sen-Det Cosgrove said.

"There were no demands. He just attacked. He (Mr Singh) was confident enough to take some evasive action and, as a result, has prevented further harm to himself."

The attacker was described as Caucasian, about 177cm tall, of a thin to medium build.

"I don't hate him," Mr Singh said of his attacker.

"But why would he do this to me? What have I done to him?"

The attack on Mr Singh is one of a number of attempted robberies on late-night convenience store workers in recent months.

Lindsay Connerty, 51, was attacked by a man armed with a 30cm carving knife at a 7-Eleven in Barkly St, St Kilda, in February. He suffered stab wounds to his hands, head, chest and back after vainly trying to use a baseball bat to fend off the thief.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

I will admit to a slight giggle as I noted the time of the assault.

There is a slight problem here. The picture, which I have not put on this blog, of Amandeep Singh after the attack, a surveillence picture with his kesh open and exposed. You can follow the link at the beginning to see the picture, if you like.

I made a comment which was published (Note: An earlier comment wondered, 'Where was his kirpan?':

Mr. Singh acted with courage and presence of mind. There was no need to use his kirpan, which would have been used only as a last resort. The bat seemns to have worked very well!

However, I must object to publishing this picture. Showing the kesh (unshorn hair) of a Sikh who normally wears a turban is roughly the equivalent of showing a woman with her upper body unclothed. Surely a more appropriate picture could have been found.

Posted by: Harinder Kaur of Seattle, USA 3:28pm today

Since there are no pictures with this post, I give you some more from professional photographer Charles Meacham. These are of elderly Sikh gentlemen. To see more, go to his website, Charles Meacham Photography, click on Galleries and then on Being Sikh.
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Sikh Community Reacts To Men Accused Of Taking Turban From Truck Driver

A couple of days ago, I posted about the case of the Sikh truck driver whose turban was stolen. I think it isinteresting what others are saying about this. My favourite comment came from a gentleman in the GLZ, who said:

I think the Yanks need to understand that the turban is worth more than a million Stars and Stripes over which they get a hissy fit and start wars.

Please, 'Yanks,' you know it's the truth!

I came across this story from KVAL TV in Eugene, Oregon, as lovely a small city as you could ever hope to find, at least it used to be; I was last there in 1971.

Sikh community reacts to men accused of taking turban from truck driver

YouNewsTV™

Story Published: Mar 27, 2008 at 6:32 PM PDT

By Kim Quintero

Video

EUGENE - Members of the Sikh community are speaking out after three Douglas County men allegedly pulled a turban off a truck driver's head and drove off with it.

"There was basically a guy who stopped me and said I'm looking for a rag head to kill," said Eugene resident Pami Singh.

Singh says he's experienced hate before and blames it in on ignorance.

"We were essentially asked to not cut our hair and keep it in a turban," said Singh.

The local engineer is of the Sikh faith and says since 9-11, he's seen more people who aren't as accepting of his culture.

"There are very good people and there are some that don't understand," said Singh.

Last August, a Sikh truck driver went to a truck stop convenience store, where three men grabbed the turban from his head, ran around the building and into their car. Thanks to video surveillance, police were able to catch up with the group and arrest them.

A Douglas County jury indicted three Yoncalla residents for that crime on misdemeanor charges of theft and harassment, but not on the felony charge of intimidation.

"It's the same thing as going up to a woman and pulling her shirt off," said Eugene resident Sarib Khalsa.

Khalsa is also Sikh. He says the Yoncalla incident should be considered a hate crime.

"A turban to a Sikh is part of their identity. Historically even touching someone's turban is a huge insult," said Khalsa.

Oregon law classifies hate crimes as "intimidation" and defines the act as tampering or interfering with property, and causing substantial inconvenience to another because of the person's race, color, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

So what can be done? One Sikh doctor living in Eugene says plenty.

"Education is the key to get rid of biases," said Jaswinder Kaur.

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A Dream In Doubt to air

FYI

Press Release From SALDEF



Sikh American Documentary to be Screened Across Country

A Dream in Doubt to make national TV premiere on PBS in May



Washington D.C. – March 27, 2008: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, in partnership with ITVS, The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and The Interfaith Alliance is proud to be a co-sponsor of the cross-country and national television screening of the critically acclaimed documentary, A Dream in Doubt.

The film, directed by Tami Yeager and produced by former SALDEF National Director Preetmohan Singh, will be screened across the country over April and May.

Find a local screening in your area

A Dream in Doubt is an immigrant story in a world in which patriotism has morphed into murder. When Rana Singh Sodhi’s brother, Balbir Singh Sodhi, is killed in America’s first post-9/11 revenge murder, he begins a journey to reclaim his American dream and fight the hate that continues to threaten his community. This intimate, hour-long documentary of one man’s odyssey from persecution in India to embracing America as his homeland proves that courage and hope have the power to overcome hate.

Additionally, the film will be screened nationally on May 20, 2008 on PBS. Click here to learn more about the May 20, 2008 screening

A Dream in Doubt not only examines the daily horrors that Rana and the Sikh community experienced as misunderstood Americans after the attacks of 9/11, but shows his personal experience with tragedy and his perseverance to obtain the American dream. Among the incidents that the Sodhi family went through after the death of Balibir Singh Sodhi were:

In August 2002, Sukhpal Singh Sodhi, Rana’s next-oldest brother, was murdered in mysterious circumstances while driving a cab in San Francisco.
Nine months later in May 2003, Rana’s friend, Avtar Chiera, was shot twice by three men who yelled, “Go back to where you came from!”

Three weeks after Avtar’s shooting, another friend, Inderjit Singh was physically assaulted and threatened with death while working at a convenience store.
Finally on September 23, 2003, Sukhvir Singh, was found dead behind the counter of a convenience store in Tempe, Arizona, of a stab wound to the head.

In the face of such tragedy, Rana exclaims: “This is America! This can’t be. We will not tolerate it.” The film follows Rana and his family as they seek vindication for his brothers’ murders by working to educate fellow Phoenix-area residents about hate crimes; acting as the spokesman for his family and the Sikh community; running his gas station to support his family; and, most importantly, attempting to guard his own school-aged children—Rose, Satpreet and Navdeep—from bullying and harassment.

Rana endures these injustices through a steadfast belief in the Sikh and American values of freedom, self-reliance, and equality. But, with each new incident, Rana’s wounds are reopened and he is forced to question how much should he suffer. For Rana, America is on trial.

SALDEF encourages all Americans to attend a screening in their area with their families, to share the story of this true struggle of one Sikh American family’s journey towards finding their own version of the idealized American dream.



Please distribute this widely to family, friends and at the local Gurdwara


CONTACT:
Navdeep Singh
media@saldef.org
202-393-2700 ext. 27



Contact SALDEF
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
1413 K St, NW, 5th floor Washington, DC 20005
phone: 202-393-2700 fax: 202-318-3344
www.saldef.org info@saldef.org


About SALDEF
Founded in 1996, SALDEF is the largest and oldest Sikh American civil rights and educational organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the civil rights of Sikh Americans through legal aid, advocacy and educational outreach. SALDEF's mission is to create a fostering environment in the United States for future generations of Sikh Americans.

What Is A Turban Worth?

What is a Sikh's turban worth? A few dollars or rupees? My turbaned brother or sister, if your turban is ripped off your head, what is it worth?

I wonder how my Dad would have reacted if someone had tried to pull his turban off. I know once when I was in high school, one of my goreh friends asked me that. I told her that it would be sort of like if I pulled down her father's pants. I'm not sure what Dad would do, but she'd never be invited back to our house. Truth to be told, she thought it was stupid; she just didn't get it. She left Dad's turban alone, but I never had her over again.

This story has been around for a while and now seems the time to bring it up.

from: News-Review.info

Alleged theft of Sikh’s turban deemed harassment

CHELSEA DUNCAN, cduncan@newsreview.info


Ranjit Singh lives his life respecting all religions, all cultures, all people. Every person is equal, the truck driver from Manteca, Calif., said.

Singh, 37, feels he was not shown the same respect while visiting a truck stop in Rice Hill last year. When the turban he wears as a member of the Sikh religion was reportedly snatched from his head, Singh considered the incident an attack on his beliefs.

“That is a very important thing,” he said of the turban, a part of the articles of faith Sikhs wear as a testament to their religion.

He contacted the Sikh Coalition, based in New York, where members lamented what they called a hate crime. The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office pressed felony charges against three suspects, alleging they had taken the turban because of their perceptions of Singh’s religion or national origin.

But last week, a Douglas County grand jury declined to indict the men on those charges, instead accusing them of misdemeanor harassment and third-degree theft.

Singh and his supporters were disappointed with the decision.

Amardeep Singh, the executive director of the Sikh Coalition (no relation to Ranjit Singh), believes the grand jury’s choice reflects a gap in education and knowledge.

“It doesn’t seem that the grand jury got the injury to a whole community that occurs when you go after its most sacred article of faith,” he said.

Yoncalla residents Ryan David Robbins, 21, Kyle Brian Simmons, 22, and Ryan Jeffrey Newell, 28, are accused in the Aug. 25 incident that occurred as Ranjit Singh was walking out of a convenience store, according to court records.

One of the men allegedly grabbed the turban, ran around the building, then drove away with it in a car, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Singh called police, and with the help of a surveillance video from the store, officials were able to track the three men down several days later.

“The allegations are very serious allegations,” said Assistant District Attorney Rick Wesenberg, “and we recognized that.”

Charges of first-degree intimidation, a felony, and second-degree theft, a misdemeanor, were initially filed. The charge of intimidation deals with situations such as assaults or threats committed due to perception of a person’s race, color, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

“We presented the grand jury with the facts and the law,” Wesenberg said, “and the grand jury made the ultimate decision.”

Because the case is pending against the men, who Wesenberg stressed are innocent until proven otherwise, the prosecutor declined to comment further.

The suspects could not immediately be reached for comment. Robbins’ attorney could also not be reached, and it was unclear whether the other two men have retained attorneys.

The charge of harassment alleges that the men unlawfully and intentionally subjected Singh to offensive physical contact.

Singh and his supporters likely would not disagree with that description, but they believe the most important aspect of the case was lost on the grand jury.

Amardeep Singh believes the jurors apparently viewed the incident as a joke, that the man who took the turban was “a prankster, but not a bigot.”

With the stereotypes left in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Singh doesn’t see how anyone could not understand the implications of stealing a turban.

Sikhs wear turbans and the other articles of faith to express their commitment to follow the mandates of the religion, such as living truthfully and standing for equality and social justice, according to www.sikhcoalition.org.

“It’s a constant reminder that we should always be good honest people,” Amardeep Singh said.

According to the Web site, Sikhism originated in South Asia and has more than 25 million followers worldwide.

As the case proceeds, Singh said advocates hope to get a chance to explain how they feel about the incident to a judge or jury in an effort to educate. They’ve also asked federal officials to open an investigation to pursue so-called hate crime charges.

The grand jury’s decision about the intimidation charges was not all that troubled Amardeep Singh and Ranjit Singh. During the grand jury process, the dollar value of the turban came up for debate.

Ranjit Singh was asked to estimate the value of the turban to determine which level of theft should be charged.

For Singh, there was no way to do that. To him, the turban is sacred, priceless.

“I’m not fighting for four or five dollars,” he said, “I am fighting for justice.”

Photos: I did not find a picture of Ranjit Singh, so you are treated to these wonderful pictures of Sikhs. I like to look at Sikhs; I think we're a very good-looking group. I have permission to use these photographs by professional photographer Charles Meacham. If you would like to see more, go to his website, Charles Meacham Photographs, click on 'Galleries,' and go to 'Being Sikh.'