Incident on India’s Independence Day sparks outrage; leaders urge UK authorities to act swiftly
British Transport Police confirmed arrests after a disturbing case of racial hate crime in which two Sikh men were allegedly assaulted outside a railway station in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, on India’s Independence Day, August 15.
A video of the attack has since gone viral, drawing widespread condemnation, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
According to the BBC, three individuals have been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the racist attack. The British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed the incident occurred around 1:45 pm BST and said they “will not tolerate this sort of behaviour on the railway network.”
The assault has ignited anger among the Indian Sikh community and political leaders. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly condemned the attack, highlighting that one Sikh man’s turban was forcibly removed — an act deeply offensive and disrespectful in Sikh tradition.
“This racist hate crime targets the Sikh community, which always seeks Sarbat Da Bhala (the well-being of all),” he wrote on X, urging West Midlands Police, the UK Home Office, and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene.
Punjab Congress president also reacted sharply, describing the attack as “a disturbing setback for inter-community harmony.” He appealed to the Indian government to raise the issue at the diplomatic level to ensure the safety and justice of the Sikh diaspora.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the growing number of racially motivated attacks against Indians and Sikhs abroad, prompting calls for stricter action from UK authorities.
