NEW YORK (TIP): New York Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to protect the city’s Sikh community after a 66-year-old Sikh man was killed after being pummeled following a car crash in Queens. “Jasmer Singh loved his city and deserved so much more than his tragic death,” Adams wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, October 22, after Singh succumbed to his injuries from the accident last week.
“On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want our Sikh community to know you have more than our condolences,” he wrote. “You have our sacred vow that we reject the hatred that took this innocent life and we will protect you.”
Gilbert Augustin, 30, was arrested and charged in the death of Jasmer Singh. However, NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is not yet investigating the incident, which they believe was sparked by a car crash, media reported citing a police spokesperson.
Both cars had dents and scratches, but when Singh went to call 911, witnesses heard a man say, “no police, no police” and watched as a man ripped the victim’s phone from his hands as he sat in his car, according to prosecutors.
Singh got out of the car and followed Augustin in an attempt to get his phone back as the two argued. The older man got his phone back and was walking back to his car when Augustin punched him three times in the head and face, they added.
Singh fell to the ground and hit his head, while Augustin hopped back into his Ford Mustang and took off, according to a criminal complaint. Medics rushed Singh to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition, where he died the next day of a brain injury.
Police pulled Augustin over on Friday about two miles from the crash site and found he had a suspended driver’s license and his Alabama license plate did not match his New York registration.
Police at the NYPD’s 102 Precinct connected him to Singh’s death and charged him with manslaughter and assault, among other lesser charges.
Following an arraignment in Queens Saturday, Augustin was held without bail.
Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Indian American elected to New York State assembly, has also condemned the assault on Jasmer Singh and 19-year-old Mani Sandhu last week and vowed to work with Adams to protect the community. “I represent Richmond Hill, the ‘Sikh Capital of the USA.’ In our community, Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews live together in harmony, often on the same block,” she stated. “When a crime occurs against any of us, it is a crime against all of us, and we come together in solidarity.”
“Sikhs are our protectors: their faith preaches seva, meaning selfless service,” Rajkumar stated. “Their religion teaches that there is divinity in every one of any faith, and that there is an obligation to protect the welfare of all humanity.”
“Every single day, Sikhs serve free meals to anyone who asks, the practice of langar. Their daily prayers include the saying, ‘Blessings for everyone.’ Every practitioner of this beautiful faith deserves our unyielding respect,” she stated. “As the first Punjabi-American ever elected to New York State Office, I will always fight for the freedom and dignity of Sikh Americans and people of every faith,” Rajkumar stated. “I will continue working with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and all stakeholders to deliver the resources for our Sikh family to live in peace and safety,” she stated.
Tag: Rajkumar
-
Indian American elderly Sikh punched after NYC car crash, dies
-
Indian American Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar distributes school supplies in South Queens
NEW YORK (TIP) : Indian American Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar hosted two major “Back to School” distributions at her office where she gave away over 1,000 backpacks and thousands of school supplies to the children of South Queens, New York.
Rajkumar, who represents District 38 in the New York State Assembly, secured private donors from outside her district to fund the distribution, bringing an abundance of high-quality backpacks and full sets of school supplies for the children of South Queens on September 5, according to a press release.
At the events. hundreds of children and their families came to the Assemblywoman’s office to receive backpacks, each containing a full set of school supplies including rulers, notebooks, glue sticks, folders, scissors, pens, crayons, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, and pouch bags.
Rajkumar has made education a priority throughout her tenure, the release stated. A regular fixture at school graduations across her district where she serves as commencement speaker, she also appears on the first day of school to greet each child as they walk in.
She hosts a summer reading challenge every summer encouraging kids to read. She regularly visits classrooms in the district as a guest speaker and serves as the keynote speaker for the Queens Young Debaters tournament.
Focusing on making the education system work for all diverse communities, Rajkumar this year led and won the historic fight to make Diwali a School Holiday in New York City’s public schools, the release noted. A diverse coalition of community groups in the district volunteered on the day of the school supply distribution to make the event a success.
These included the Ozone Park Residents Block Association, the Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol, the Richmond Hill/South Ozone Park Lions Club, Queens Community Board 9, the Woodhaven BID, Glendale Kiwanis, the Bangladeshi American Society, United American Hindu Leadership Council, the New York Nepalese Help Post, the Ridgewood 123 Kiwanis, Kiwanis Club of Ozone Park-Woodhaven and the US Nepal Climbers Association.
“Education is the reason I am here,” Rajkumar said. “As the daughter of immigrants from India who came to this country with little, it was education that threw open the doors of opportunity for me.”
“Now, I am committed to ensuring all the children in my district have those same opportunities I had,” she said. “That is why I put everything in to making sure the children of District 38 are excited and prepared for the new school year.”
“Our area has never had this kind of incredible representation. I did not even know who my Assembly member was until Assemblywoman Rajkumar,” said Juana Chavez, a local resident. “She looks out for all of us, and our children’s education, by delivering the supplies and help we need. Thanks to her, my son will be ready for school.”
“The Assemblywoman is always in the community helping us. She has so much energy that I wonder how she does it all. She helps us with so many things,” said Claudette Gosta, another mother.
“She did a free medical clinic, food distributions, rain barrels, mammograms, and a rock concert. Now she is helping us with backpacks and other supplies so that my children have everything for the school year.”