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Sikh family terrorised by
sheriff’s deputies plans to sue
WSN Network
The Sikh family
that had complained that it was terrorised in its own home by
sheriff ’s deputies after a burglary has refused that its members be
interviewed one-on-one by the deputies. The family has alleged that
the deputies shouted obscenities and even pointed a Taser gun at a
35-year-old woman, pushed her to the ground, handcuffed her and her
60-year-old mother. It was apparently all provoked by the fact that
the woman was wearing the Sikh symbol of Kirpan.
The family says
it has refused to allow its members to be interviewed after the
advice from its lawyer. Kawaljeet Kaur Tagore said the family has
already submitted a detailed account of what happened and will offer
to respond to any questions in writing. It niow almost seems clear
that the family is planning to sue. Scott Newar, their lawyer,
confirmed her account. “The sheriff ’s department has an internal
affairs process and we understand that,” he said. “We’ll make a
decision as to whether we will proceed through the internal affairs
process or go directly to a lawsuit.” Sheriff Adrian Garcia, who
joined after the incident, seems to be making an effort at image
building. Before assuming office in January, he reached out to the
Sikh community by meeting with a crowd at a gurdwara.
But as Rick
Casey of Houston Chronicle wrote, “it is also reasonable for the
Tagore family to be skeptical.” To quote from a commentary by
Casey: “We lost our trust in the sheriff ’s department that night,”
said Kawaljeet Kaur Tagore, who has also sued the IRS for firing her
for insisting on wearing her Kirpan to work. “The Internal Affairs
Department is part of the same organization, investigating
themselves.”
18 February 2009
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