Guest guest Posted September 17, 2001 Report Share Posted September 17, 2001 US national arrested for 'hate killing' ---- ---------- NDTV Correspondent Monday, September 17, 2001 (New York): 42-year-old Frank Roque was arrested today in connection with the murder of Indian immigrant Balbir Singh Sodhi in Arizona. Police charged him with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and three counts of shooting. A report in a local paper here said the man shouted, "I stand for America" as he was being arrested. The gunman, who came in a van, fired at Sodhi at least thrice killing him while he was working at a gas station. As Sodhi fell, the gunman drove to the other gas station and fired at a clerk of Lebanese descent who was working in the store attached to it. He also fired at a house later. No casualties, however, were reported in the second and subsequent attacks. Sodhi had immigrated from Punjab about 10 years ago and was running a gas station. His family members said it was clearly a hate crime and not a robbery attempt as no cash was taken. Ever since Americans identified Osama bin Laden, turbaned and with a flowing beard, as the prime suspect for the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the Sikh community in the US has been under constant fear of being mistaken as his followers. Sodhi's family believes the death is a revenge killing by Americans who mistook him for an Arab. "We found out later that some Americans had come who thought that the Sikhs were Muslims and Arabs and they killed Balbir under that misconception," said Jagjit Singh Sodhi, Balbir's brother. "I'd spoken with my daughter and son-in-law and they said they were far away from New York, in Phoenix on the Arizona side and there is nothing to fear about there. The next morning I got to know that such an attack had happened," said K S Gujral, Balbir's brother-in-law. The attack shows that with increasing racist anger on the streets of America, Indians may have reasons to be worried. (With PTI inputs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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