In a recent hate crime incident, a 41-year old Sikh-American IT specialist was brutally attacked by some men, who knocked off his turban and allegedly cut his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife.

A father and IT specialist in California, Maan Singh Khalsa, was driving home on the night of September 25 when a group of men in car threw a beer can at his vehicle.

According to a statement by The Sikh Coalition, "Khalsa drove away from the scene but the men followed him and assaulted him through his open car window, knocking off his Sikh turban and hitting his face repeatedly." It is nation's largest Sikh civil rights organization.

Khalsa said there were "five to six white males in their late 20s to early 30s" who abused him and three of them then attacked him physically.

The complaint alleged, Shouting that Khalsa's hair should be cut off, the men pulled his head out of the window, and cut a fistful of his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife.

Khalsa sustained injuries to his fingers, hands, eye and teeth.

The Sikh Coalition has written to the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on behalf of Khalsa, urging authorities to conduct a hate crime investigation and prosecution in the case.

Khalsa said in a press statement released by the Sikh Coalition, "The attackers caused physical injuries and deep harm when they targeted my Sikh faith."

"I urge a thorough investigation so we can address the tide of violence and bigotry in this country." Sikh Coalition Legal Director, Harsimran Kaur urged authorities to fully investigate "this hateful attack" on Khalsa and his Sikh identity.

"The purpose of a hate crime investigation and prosecution is to ensure that our government and communities accurately account for the problem of bias in our society," Kaur said.  

"We need to acknowledge hatred so that we commit the resources necessary to stem bias-based violence," Kaur added.

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Nandini