HASC Expresses Condolences on Tragic Death in NYC subway

HASC Expresses Condolences on Tragic Death in NYC subway

-  Urge DOJ and FBI to Track Hindu Hate Crimes Separately -

Washington D.C. December 30, 2012:  HASC expresses grief over the tragic death of Mr. Sunando Senand concern over xenophobia against Hindus, as well as Muslims and Sikhs.  Last Thursday, Mr. Sen was pushed onto the tracks of an elevated subway station in Queens by Erika Menendez, a 31-year-old woman and crushed by an oncoming train. “I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because I hate Hindus and Muslims ever since 2001 when they put down the twin towers I’ve been beating them up.” Rightfully, she ischarged with murder as a hate crime.

Though there is a high level of acceptance of our community in America, sometimes we see gaps through intolerance and violence.   Unfortunately, innocent people are impacted when individuals turn against any group of people.

Following the 9/11 tragedy, Hindu and Dharmic people, including children and youth, have been have been the victims of increased numbers of bias-related assaults, threats, vandalism and arson, subjected to harassment, bullying and even killed.

Many of these heinous acts of are under-reported, and if reported are not tracked as hate crimes.  We need the Department of Justice (DOJ) to have a separate Hindu category to track anti Hindu hate crimes and urge FBI to implement to raise the profile.

Many Hindu and Dharmic places of worship are vandalized and our community does not report such crimes for fear of retaliation. The community needs to report the crimes and continue to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to increase vigilance and awareness.

In Old Bridge, NJ, Dr. Divyendu Sinha was beaten to death in front of his wife and children, by five people for no reason.  The family and community are still waiting for the trial of 4 of the 5 culprits.

We hope these heinous acts against our community will not go unnoticed and the death of Dr. Sen will not be in vain.  Just as the community improves its own security infrastructures we urge DOJ and FBI to track these hate crimes separately for appropriate data collection and action.  

We hope education and interfaith collaboration will dispel ignorance as we come develop our pluralistic communities together.