Connecticut Department of Justice educates first responders about Sikh community

Posted: 08 Apr 2016

CONNECTICUT, USA—Due to the increase in hate crimes against Sikhs and Muslims as well as the recent vandalization of various religious places of worship, the Department of Justice in Connecticut is stepping up efforts in their educational program called AMS (Arabs Muslims and Sikhs). In this program, the D.O.J provides information on these three groups to all first responders, such as firemen and police officers, so they know how to best to handle situations pertaining to these populations.
Sarala V. Nagala, Assistant United States Attorney of the District of Connecticut, is working hard to make this program active and is putting the state’s resources towards it. Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, a member of Sikh Sewak Society International USA, is an active ambassador of this program and a volunteer for the D.O.J. He helps give presentations to various police departments, and recently has presented in Milford and Westport. Each month,  five to ten presentations are being given to police departments in various cities all around Connecticut.
Due to the increase in the number of presentations, the Connecticut Sikh community has provided 4 more volunteers, including Amarjit Singh from Stamford, Raman Singh, and Maninder Singh Arora from Southington.
“These are volunteer positions in the D.O.J and most presentations are on weekdays so I have to compromise my work,” said Swarnjit Singh, “but its very important for us to let first responders know about our religion so if there is any situation of hate crime they can act fast and in proper manner.”