Paterson, New Jersey—72 year old Avtar Singh, a gas station owner and one of the founding members of Glen Rock Gurdwara in New Jersey, was brutally beaten by his neighbor, Edward Koscovski, who owns a car business in Paterson (New Jersey) and shares a common driveway with Avtar Singh.
On July 26th, Avtar Singh Ji went to Edward Koscovski’s shop to request him to move his truck that was parked and blocking the entrance of Avtar Singh’s gas station. The request turned into an altercation in which Avtar Singh Ji was brutally assaulted.
“I kept on yelling that please let me go but nothing moved Edward from hitting me. When I turned around using all my strength, Edward smashed my face, broke my teeth and kept punching me in the stomach. He grabbed my Kirpan and threw it at his attendant. The attendant removed the Kirpan from the mian (cover) and hid the mian (cover) in a room inside. He also snatched my phone and put it out of sight” said Avtar Singh, who suffered injuries to his face and stomach.
Upon arrival at the scene, the police arrested the 72 year old Avtar Singh and charged him with possession of a weapon (Kirpan). He was questioned before anyone attended to his injuries and then taken to the hospital and was handcuffed to the hospital bed during his stay at the hospital. He was then taken to the police station and jailed until his family members filed his bail application.
The Kirpan is one of the five K’s—Kesh (uncut hair covered by turban), Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (metal bracelet) , Kachera (specific cotton undergarment) and Kirpan (a small dagger like symbol)—that are carried by initiated Sikhs at all times.
United Sikhs has contacted the Civil Rights Division and the Community Relations Service Division in the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the State of New Jersey Attorney General’s office for investigation and is following up on Avtar Singh’s case to be heard next Thursday. They will also follow up with the Paterson police regarding the questionable behavior of the police officer who arrested Avtar Singh.
Although this incident occurred prior to the Wisconsin tragedy, it reinforces the lack of cultural sensitivity training within law enforcement agencies, especially regarding the Sikh Kakkars or articles of faith.
This is really a sad incident.In India, we can carry kirpans and it is legal.Although Simranhjit Mann doesn’t agree with us .In his view ,USA take care of sikhs which i think is his delusion.
Jugdip Gill: You should collect the Punjab’s data since 1947 and count how many sons, brother, fathers and husbands have been lost by Punjab with mere instigations. After collecting the facts you will change your attitude.
Question No.1: Why all mistreatment only happening with Sikh Gurdwara/Temple management members and smugglers? (We were living and treated with respect for long time until criminal start pouring in since 1984).
Question No.2: How much funds Sikh Gurdwara/Temples have collected since 1984 Golden Temple attack, other instigations incidents?
Question No.3: Who has account and why we Sikh members are not able to audit where the Billion Dollar funds have been spent and how much embezzlement took place?
Question No.4: How many Punjabi have been smuggled to various countries by Sikh Gurdwara/Temple management, Supports clubs and Entertainment shows/singers and how much money is made?
Question No.5: Why 133 year old Punjabi holy books publishing company was caught red-handed with drugs by our own Sikh police? (Punjabi are smuggling drugs from Afghanistan to Pakistan, Pakistan to Punjab and Punjab to all over the World- Please read the Tribune for reference)
Question No.6: How many Punjabi’s are in prisons of other countries and are we not smuggling and fight ourshelf every day?
Question No.7: What is role of Amritdhari in the civilized society as it is Guru Ji’s Army (FAUJ)?
Question No.8: Why police is called Sikh Gurdwara/Temples by us and how many times since 1947? (As no other races/parties were involved)
Question No.9: Why Punjabi fights with Punjabi if they are peace loving community and murder each other?
Question No. 10: Why seniors instigate younger generation and sell drugs (Tobacco, Marijuana, Opium, Alcohols and other drugs) as bar by our religion and do not want their own kids to consume?
Question No. 11: Why we and our leaders do not have clear-cut set directions for Religion, congregation, common rules for respect, and management responsibilities toward its members, set rules of punishments for various crimes of any kind inside Gurdwara/Temples? ( Our Jatherdars are allowed to pull each other turbans, Punjab Police can pull turbans, hit with sticks, treat like animals, shoot with bullets, rape innocent mothers, sisters, daughters and wives, all emotional human Sikh dogs are shut. Gurdwara premises are allowed in India to store and consume Marijuana and Opium)
I have evidence that dishonest Sikhs instigate emotional members to create delicate situation to take advantage for their livelihood and collect funds/donations on the Sikh Gurdwara/Temple Podium, Radio stations, call for demonstrations to play with Sikh member’s sentiments, fix tournaments to pay for their children education, marriages and buy the properties. Sikh Gurdwara/Temple managements are skunk of Sikh community and bad luck for new Sikh generation. I have open challenge to debate with any Sikh Gurdwara/Temple management members including North American Gurdwara coordinator.
Please read review our BANI from Guru Ji’s teaching, not to hurt Guru Ji and work against their philosophy to get wishful blessing to grow as better Sikh community.
This is appalling 73 year old beaten and then arrested for wearing a kirpan. I would like to know what happened to the neighbor, was he not charged for this assault. Even if an elderly man used a knife to fight off an attack from a much younger stronger person it is justified. I urge all sikh community to obtain concealed weapons permits from your county sheriffs department. I personally carry a handgun legally on me at all times. This needs to be taken very seriously police have been abusing Sikhs here in america for a long time… this case needs to be handled with care. It is hard to believe how docile and wimpy we have become as a community. This incident should anger and boil your blood! We should not put up with these types of incidents, we need to be heard and respected we need to let the world know we are not going to put up with this. The police officer needs to be held accountable for his obvious miss handling of the situation. He needs to be removed from his job, and the police department needs to be sued to set a example so this never happens again.