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Indian Americans in North Brunswick, New Jersey, are wary these days taking strolls on neighborhood roads, or even making a walking trip to a local grocery, or so it seems.
Fear has gripped the community after an elderly man, Rohit Patel, was seriously injured in an alleged bias attack July one in the township.
Patel, 57, was found lying on the road by a passing driver. He sustained several stitches and broken teeth. His family claims he was targeted because he is Indian. Patel was attacked in broad daylight.
Why should an Indian American be targeted? The township’s recent history of violence against the community members answers the question.
According to community elders, there have been as many as five or six similar attacks against Indian Americans for no apparent reason since the beginning of the year.
Dipen Patel, the victim’s son, described attack as a hate crime.
After searching the area police arrested one Nyle Kilgore and charged with the alleged attack on Patel. According to North Brunswick police say there have been several bias attacks against Indian Americans near Kilgore’s former home at the Colony Oaks apartments.
Police said, according to reports, that Kilgore will face multiple charges, but did not specify if a bias crime would be one of them.
The story of agony for the family and other Indian American residents could have ended there, but for the fact that Kilgore was freed on $50,000 bail bond much to the chagrin of the Patel family. The family expressed apprehension because Kilgore posted bail and got out.
Peter Kothari, a longtime community leader from Edison, said the reason why Indians are attacked is that working class people from some other communities, especially those who are trying to eke out a living, are envious of members of the Indian American community because of their higher social and economic status.
“I think sometime they feel who are these outsiders here from outside. It’s a kind of angry and often unreasonable reaction that happens in such a bad economy,” Kothari told this correspondent.
While his observation may or may not be true, Kothari faulted the Indian American community leaders and politicians for the sorry plight of the community. “You see, we Indians have not learnt of the Jewish Community of the Black community who always pay attention to what happens in their community. Look, at how people organized themselves throughout the nation after nine people were shot dead at a historic black church in Charleston.
“Do our politicians/leaders show solidarity for their own community? No. They are more interested in getting photos with the high and mighty, and do not care for ordinary people.
If they did, and rose in protests and put pressure on local authorities, things like the attack on Patel would not have happened,” Kothari told Desi Talk.
The post Community In North Brunswick Wary After Latest Attack On Indian appeared first on News India Times.
