Deadly Misunderstanding? Sikh Man Performing Gatka Shot by Police in Los Angeles
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A tragic incident occurred in Los Angeles, USA, where a Sikh man was shot dead by police while allegedly wielding a sword on a public street. The incident, which took place on the morning of July 13 near the Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA, has sparked outrage and concern within the Sikh community.
The victim has been identified as Gurpreet Singh, a 36-year-old member of the local Sikh community. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Gurpreet was seen threatening people with a sharp-edged weapon on the street. Officers reportedly instructed him multiple times to drop the weapon, but he did not comply and allegedly attempted to attack the police, prompting them to open fire.
He was critically injured and taken to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, further fueling controversy. Members of the Sikh community in the U.S. claim that Gurpreet was not threatening anyone but was performing Gatka, a traditional Sikh martial art involving swords.
The LAPD recently released the bodycam footage of the incident, bringing renewed attention to the case. The video appears to show police warning the man multiple times, but the community insists that cultural misunderstanding and excessive force led to an unnecessary death.
The incident has raised questions about police conduct, racial profiling, and the need for better cultural awareness among law enforcement in multicultural societies like the United States.
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