Posted on 10/15/2004 7:15:36 AM PDT by flutters
Terrorism task force, FBI called in over weapon that is integral to faith
His first name means "God’s prayer."
And prayers were what Gursimran Singh, 18, was counting with a mechanical clicker as he rode an Ohio State University bus this week — and what he’s done on the bus every day since school started a few weeks ago.
Singh, a devout Sikh and OSU freshman, also was wearing a turban on his head and a kirpaan, a ceremonial knife, in a sling within his clothing. The knife had a 6-inch blade.
Wearing a kirpaan, he said, is crucial to the Sikh religion.
But fellow riders and the bus driver didn’t understand.
Singh, a Cincinnati native, was arrested Wednesday morning after OSU police officers stopped him as he got off the bus.
The joint terrorism task force was called in, an OSU police report shows, and the FBI interrogated Singh.
No charges were filed against Singh, said OSU Assistant Police Chief Rick Amweg, and within about 2½ hours, he was back in class.
"I was just shocked," said Singh, who said he doesn’t harbor anger toward the officers and that he was treated with respect.
He did question, though, why it took several officers to arrest him and two to handcuff him.
"I thought it only took one person," he said yesterday afternoon.
Though Singh didn’t know it at the time, the arrest was the culmination of an incident when he rode the bus about a week ago, when some other OSU students became suspicious and took pictures of him with cameras on their cell phones, Amweg said.
At the time, Singh was using his prayer clicker, which he said counts his prayers not unlike a Catholic’s rosary beads.
The students turned his picture over to OSU police, who then began a watch for Singh, Amweg said.
"Our concerns were that we needed to identify who he was, and what he was doing," he said, adding that he thought the students did the right thing.
In the course of trying to find Singh, police on Saturday stopped another Sikh student on the street, Amweg said.
That man was a second-year OSU medical student. He was questioned for about a half-hour and not charged.
But on Wednesday, a bus driver recognized Singh from a picture police had circulated to OSU drivers and radioed for police.
At least one member of the Sikh community said it’s a shame that those of his faith are lumped together with terrorists.
"After 9/11, people have become hypersensitive, or actually hyperdefensive," said Tarunjit Singh Butalia, a research scientist at OSU and faculty adviser to the OSU Sikh Student Association. "I think what happened here is an example."
Butalia, who is a member of the World Sikh Council, American region, urged people of different faiths to get to know one another.
As many as 36 students are Sikhs at OSU, and there are 100 Sikh families in Columbus, Butalia said.
"I would encourage people who see someone different to go up and to ask questions."
Sikhs, with 20 million followers worldwide and their largest populations in India and Pakistan, have never been tied to the Sept. 11 attack.
Prosecutors had considered charging Singh with carrying a concealed weapon, which Ohio code says is any "instrument, device or thing capable of inflicting death," but case law exempts the kirpaan.
"We stand by the right to wear a kirpaan," Butalia said.
The knife’s name means "bringer of mercy" and represents the Sikh pledge to be ready to oppose oppression — but to never start a confrontation.
OSU police have agreed to be at the next meeting of the Sikh Student Association, and Sikh students will attend a police training seminar next quarter to foster communication, Butalia said.
Singh said he would like to see everyone become more knowledgeable about differences.
"It would probably have been better if they (the students) had approached me, and asked me questions," he said.
He remembers pre-9/11 days, when "you didn’t stand out."
And then there is now: "I mean, Osama bin Laden wears a turban."
Amweg said he doesn’t criticize the students for contacting police.
"I think we had good citizen involvement. They did what they should have and reported it, and it all worked out for the best."
Maybe the Sikhs wear knives for self-protection:
1. Bata, Hazara; 14/12-16/12/46; Muslim mob; One Gurudwara and one Hindu
house burned. One Sikh murdered, two women wounded.
2. Sihalian, Hazara; 19/12/46; Muslim mob; Two Hindus killed.
3. Samadhra, Hazara; 10/12/46; Muslim mob; Gurudwara burnt.
4. Jabori, Hazara; 12/12/46; Muslim mob; 16 Hindu evacuees to Manshera
waylaid and killed.
5. Sankiari, Hazara; Middle Dec. '46; Muslim mob; Hindu temples broken
and murtis desecrated.
6. Balakot Hazara; Middle Dec. '46; Muslim mob; One Sikh killed for
refusing to embrace Islam.
7. Bhata, Hazara; Middle Dec. '46; Muslim mob; 116 Sikhs burnt alive,
several shot dead.
8. Mallachh, Hazara; 3/1/47; Muslim mob; 115 Hindus and Sikhs killed,
large scale looting and arson, women abducted.
9. Dakhali Siar, Hazara; 10/1/47; Muslim mob; Sikhs' houses looted and burnt.
10. Jhan, Campbellpur; Early march '47; Muslim mob; 150 Sikhs killed,
their houses burnt.
11-14. Taurwan (tehsil Talagang), Dhurnala, Dhiba, Suka, Panchnad; All
Campbellpur; 4/9/47 and after; Muslim mob; Jehad declared by Moulvis
against Hindus and Sikhs. Massacare of Sikhs in Dhurnala Dhiba, Suka and
Panchnad, besides Taurwan. Women and children abducted on a large scale.
In many places false promises of safety given to Hindus and Sikhs. Whole
area overrun.
15. Narali (tehsil Gujarkhan); Rawalpindi; 12/3/47; Muslim mob; Attacking
force 15,000, Gurudwara attacked repeatedly. Hindus and Sikhs besieged
inside gurudwara put up stiff resistance, several hindus and sikhs
killed, large scale looting of hindus and sikhs.
16. Dhudial, Rawalpindi; 13/3/47 and 13/3/47; Muslim mob; First attack
resisted by the Sikhs. Large scale looting and arson of Sikh houses,
besides 314 houses, 4 gurudwaras, Hind-Iran Bank and Khalsa High School
burnt. Many sikhs slaughtered.
17. Adiala, Rawalpindi; 8/3/47; Muslim mob; Mobs collected by beat of
drums, false alarm of sikh attack raised, large scale looting, arson in
Hindu-sikh quarters, Hindus and Sikhs fereted out and burnt alive,
stabbed and shot dead, 40 forcibly converted, muslim police looked the
other way and did nothing about the attack.
18. Gorsian (tehsil Gujarkhan); Rawalpindi; 10/3/47; Muslim mob;
Attacking force 600, Muslims persuaded that to kill sikhs a holy deed,
several sikhs killed, large scale looting.
19. Ghugg, Jhelum; Early March '47; Muslim mob; 128 sikhs killed, large
scale arson and looting, 40 women abducted.
20. Mandra, Rawalpindi; 9/3/47; Muslim mob; large scale looting and arson
of hindu sikh businesses, 200 sikhs killed, 40 missing, Gurudwara and
School burnt.
21. Rajar (tehsil Fatehjung), Campbellpur; 10/3/47; Muslim mob; Mob armed
with rifles, 300 sikhs killed, 3 Gurudwaras burnt and Sikh scriptures
desecrated, 16 sikhs incl. women and children burnt alive, all Sikh
houses looted and burnt, 95 women abducted and forcibly married to Muslims.
22. Jia Bagha, Jhelum; Early March, 1947; Muslim mob; 18 sikhs killed, 52
forcibly converted, 66 sikhs houses burnt.
23. Sarkal Kaser, Jhelum; Early March '47; Muslim mob; 43 sikhs and
hindus killed, rest forcibly converted, most hindu-sikh houses burnt.
24. Darwal, Jhelum; Early March '47; Muslim mob; 9 Hindus and Sikhs
killed, 80 forcibly converted, 50 Hindu-sikh houses burnt.
25. Narang, Jhelum; Early March '47; Musim mob; 6 Hindus and Sikhs killed
over 100 Hindu-Sikh houses burnt.
26. Bhasin, Jhelum; Early March '47; Muslim mob; 35 Hindu-Sikh houses
burnt and looted.
27. Chak Sewak, Jhelum, Early March '47; Muslim mob; All Hindu-Sikh
houses looted.
28. Bhagwal, Jhelum, Early March '47; Muslim mob; All Hindu-Sikh houses
looted.
29. Athwal, Jhelum, Early March '47; Muslim mob; 10 Hindu-Sikh houses
looted and burnt.
30. Tahar, Jhelum, 7/3/47 and later, Muslim mob; All hindu-Sikh houses
looted.
31. Mangwal, Jhelum, 7/3/47 and later, Muslim mob; Almost all Hindu-sikh
houses looted.
32. Sahola, Jhelum, 7/3/47 and later, Muslim mob; All Hindu-Sikh houses
looted and burnt.
33-34. Jhanel, Fatahi; Jhelum; 7/3/47 and onwards; Muslim mob; one
non-Muslim killed.
35. Rupwal, Jhelum; 7/3/47 and onwards; Muslim mob; one non-Muslim killed.
36. Ranjha, Jhelum; 7/3/47 and onwards; Muslim mob; one Gurudwara burned.
37. Dharogi, Jhelum; 7/3/47 and later; Muslim mob; Some hindu-Sikh houses
looted and burnt.
38. Namazian, Jhelum; 7/3/47 and later; Muslim mob; 5 hindu-Sikh houses
burnt and looted.
39-42. Tarakwal, Deri Dhok, Hasail, Dhab Kalan; Dist. Jhelum; 7/3/47 and
later; Muslim mob; Hindus and Sikh houses looted and burnt in all these
villages.
43. 128 villages, Rawalpindi; 7/3/47; Muslim mob; Villages attacked,
Hindus and Sikhs killed, No. of killed estimated at 7,000. Other
casualties in proportion, houses burnt and looted, Gurudwaras attacked
and burnt, Approx 1,000 women abducted.
44. 23 villages, Campbellpur; 7/3/47 and onwards; Muslim mob; 610 Hindus
and Sikhs killed, 1,656 Hindu-Sikh houses incl. Gurudwaras burnt and
looted. 1,471 forcibly converted, aprox 1,000 women and children abducted.
45. Garhi Habibullah, Abbottabad (Tehsil Manshera); 18/12/46 and 14/3/47;
Muslim mob; One Hindu abducted and killed 18/12/46, On 14/3/47 8
Hindu-Sikh houses burnt and 4 temples-gurudwaras burnt, large scale
looting by the muslims, Several Hindus and Sikhs killed.
46. Ramgarh (Tehsil Kharian), Dist. Gujrat; 14/3/37 and 15/3/47; Muslim
mob; Hindus and Sikhs extensively looted.
47-50. Batal, Uggi, Sum Ilahi Mung, Garhi Jalli, Dist. Hazara; 7/12/46
and 9/12/46; Muslim mob; 11 Hindus and Sahejdhari sikhs killed in Batal,
11 wounded, looting of Hindu-Sikh houses. Bazar of Uggi burnt and Sikh
shops burnt, 5 Hindus and Sikhs killed, Hindu-Sikh evacuees attacked, 14
killed, 27 injured, gurudwaras burnt.
http://www.hindunet.org/alt_hindu/1995_May_2/msg00042.html
> I hereby state that my religion requires me to openly carry my .45 ACP!
Depends on what your religion is. If you are an Asatruar (follower of the old Norse beliefs... you know, Odin & Thor and whatnot), it seems you should be able to claim that:
Havamal, stanza 38
A wayfarer should not walk unarmed,
But have his weapons to hand:
He knows not when he may need a spear,
Or what menace meet on the road.
And if you are a Christian, IIRC, Jesus tells his followers that if they do not have a sword, sell your clothes and buy one.
However, the Havamal stanza says to not only have weapons, but to have them when you go out. The Norse knew what they were about...
I keep a short steel bar with a wrist strap on it to ward off potential attackers. If questioned, this is for checking the tire pressure.
Might I suggest a large Mag light instead? The batteries add some nice extra weight and the things are tough as hell plus they're really nice flashlights.
I keep mine in the car because I have skunks on my property and need to check for them before going in the side door.
Your ignorance of Jesus's teaching is readily apparent to anyone familiar with scripture, and please, for your sake, do not ascribe words to Him which He never said. The sword carried by a follower of Christ is the Sword of the Spirit, i.e. the Word of God.
"ceremonial m1911a1"
Nice piece. I want one.
> do not ascribe words to Him which He never said.
Ah. My error. I must have been thinking of some *other* Christ who said: "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
> The sword carried by a follower of Christ is the Sword of the Spirit, i.e. the Word of God.
Yes, most effective for defense against muggers.
Thank you. I was trying to find that text to respond also.
Seriously, while I respect the Sikhs right to wear a dagger if that is part of their faith, the same authorities would not let other students run around campus wearing a 6-inch blade, they would be arrested or expelled.
The Sikh's martial culture is based on their fighting Islamic invaders for hundreds of years. There is definitely no love lost between Sikhs and Muslims.
Your understanding of Luke 22 is grossly flawed and greviously misapplied. Interesting that you should mention "context"!!! Please see Luke 22:49-51 and especially Matthew 26:52: "Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'" Fortunately for you, the Lord's mercy is super-abundant. I urge you to renounce Satan, to repent, and to seek His kingdom and His truth while there is yet time.
My last reply to Talon was actually meant for Orionblamb. Talon has some knowledge of the text (though he's neglected the main point), whereas Orion appears to think that weapons are more powerful than the Word of God, which, of course, is absurd, since it is the Word of God that bought the universe into being, and everything in it, seen and unseen. Lord have mercy on your soul.
It's commonly known that Sikhs have alternatives to carrying a weapon like that. There are little kits that have tiny "toy" knives and combs so that they are complying with what they are required to carry. I hate to offend, but carrying that big ceremonial dagger in the US is the equivalent of someone carrying around a five-pound Bible.
absurd
If you carry your Kabar, then you are doing a good work, my son. It is a "bringer of mercy" after all! Go forth and bring mercy!
You beat me to it.
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