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An elderly Sikh man was punched in an unprovoked Queens attack that cops are eyeing as a hate crime, authorities said.

The 70-year-old victim — identified by WABC as Nirmal Singh — was walking around 7 a.m. Sunday at 95th Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill when the assailant socked him in the nose, causing pain and bleeding, cops said. 

The attacker did not say a word and fled after the assault, cops said. 


  An elderly Sikh man was attacked from behind early April 4, 2022 in Queens. UNITED SIKHS An elderly Sikh man was attacked from behind early April 4, 2022 in Queens. UNITED SIKHS

Singh was taken to an area hospital for an evaluation, police said. 

Authorities confirmed that the incident was being investigated as a hate crime. 

Singh — who was still wearing his bloodied jacket and speaking in his native language, Punjabi — told WABC Sunday that the suspect attacked him from behind. 

He had only been in the country for two weeks on a visitor visa, the outlet reported. 

Bystander Gurinder Singh told the station he witnessed the aftermath of the attack. 


  Authorities confirmed that the incident was being investigated as a hate crime. UNITED SIKHS Authorities confirmed that the incident was being investigated as a hate crime. UNITED SIKHS

“We have grandfathers and stuff and seeing such an elderly person being attacked and all bloodied up, and he was worried,” he said.

Community activist Japneet Singh told the outlet that the members of the local community — especially those who wear turbans — have been targeted in hate crimes. 

“People come at us a certain way because of the way we look,” he said.

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