Friday, January 22, 2016

Valley Sikhs React to Hate Crimes

Fresno Police are continuing to investigate the brutal murder of Gucharan Gill, a 68 year-old Sikh man while he worked at a convenience store on January 1st. Investigators have not ruled out hate crime as a motive in the killing. Mr. Gill was stabbed multiple times as he was helping attacker. Store cameras show a Caucasian male present. The tragic incident came just a week after another Sikh man was viciously beaten while waiting for a ride to work on a country road. Amrik Bal, also 68 and wearing the traditional Sikh turban, was first cursed at by two white men in a car, stuck with the car as he tried to escape, then badly beaten. Police are calling it a hate crime. Last week at a memorial gathering at the Shields market, where Mr. Gill worked, people came together with Sikh citizens to express their sadness and solidarity. Pacifica’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.