SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Members of the Sikh community in Union City, Calif. are searching for answers after a holy book was destroyed on Aug. 9, a man allegedly tore up the Guru Granth Sahib at one of the city’s parks.
Union City police are seeking the public’s help in tracking down a man who disrupted a meeting of Sikh elders on the evening of the same day, he allegedly approached the group and tore apart the holy book of Sikh scriptures.
Onlookers chased the man, but he escaped the scene and fleeing in a vehicle.
“While our legal options are limited to the facts, our intent is to do all we can to promote a feeling of safety and solidarity to our entire Union City community,” Union City police said in a Facebook post.
The Sikh community are hoping for a more proactive effort from police in the search.
Harjeet Singh, a former director of Fremont’s Sikh Gurdwara temple, told SFGate.com in a report that the incident “was a direct attack on our religious identity,” and that police need to bring forth an assault case against the man.
Singh believes the incident is just one in a long string of violence against Sikhs in the U.S., adding that the man physically attacked a member of the temple who confronted him during the incident.
“This act was hateful and wrong, but we must reject this invitation to be divided. We won’t tolerate religious hatred; we will stand together,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat representing nearby Pleasanton.
According to witnesses, the man is described of Indian descent, adding that he spoke Punjabi. There were a handful of Sikhs at the park when the incident occurred, however, none recognized the man or could make the type of car he escaped in.
Police added in their Facebook post that no laws were broken in the incident and they intend to handle it consistently, considering the facts and the law.
“While we understand the man’s behavior may be considered disrespectful or repugnant, or even a violation of the laws of other nations, we also recognize that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution allows for free speech and free expression,” officials wrote.
Anyone with more information about the incident can call Union City police at (510) 675-5207 or email[email protected].
