NORWICH, Ct. (DiyaTV) — A Connecticut man faces charges after police said he posted threatening social media comments directed at Norwich Mayor Swaranjit Singh and his family.
Police said officers arrested a 65-year-old man from New London on Friday after investigating online threats made against the mayor. Authorities said the investigation began Thursday after officials learned about the posts. The case has drawn strong reactions from local leaders and residents. Officials across Connecticut condemned the threats and racist remarks aimed at Singh, who became the first Sikh mayor of Norwich.
According to police, the FBI office in New Haven notified Norwich officers about the threatening social media comments. Investigators quickly reviewed the posts and secured an arrest warrant the following day.
Authorities have not released full details about the charges or the suspect’s identity. Police said the investigation remains active. The incident has raised concerns about political threats and hate speech targeting elected officials. It also reflects growing worries nationwide about online harassment and intimidation against public servants.
Singh addressed the threats in a public statement posted online. He said he has grown used to receiving racist comments but drew a firm line when threats targeted his family.
“I can ignore some of the racial slurs directed at me these days, but I will not tolerate threats to my family,” Singh wrote.
He also vowed to continue serving the city despite the threats.
“I will continue to serve my community as mayor and focus on economic development, whether anyone likes it or not,” Singh said. “I have always condemned political violence and transnational repression, and I will continue to do so.”
Singh included screenshots of the social media comments in his post. The images showed threatening and derogatory language directed at him and his family. The mayor’s response gained support from residents and public officials across the region.
Local Democratic leaders released a statement Tuesday condemning the racist comments and threats aimed at Singh. The statement came from state Sen. Cathy Osten and state Reps. Derell Wilson and Larry Pemberton. The lawmakers said they “firmly denounce the racist, derogatory remarks” directed at the mayor and his family in a Facebook post connected to the local news outlet Norwich Bulletin.
“We condemn political threats, reject dehumanizing rhetoric and acts of violence in any form,” the statement read. “We believe our residents in Norwich feel the same.”
The leaders called for respectful political discourse and urged residents to reject hate and intimidation.
Threats against public officials have increased in recent years across the United States. Local leaders, school board members, election workers, and mayors have all reported higher levels of harassment and intimidation online. Experts say social media platforms often allow hateful rhetoric to spread quickly. Many officials now rely on law enforcement agencies to investigate threats before violence occurs.
