It Was A Lie

[Prem]

Sikh boy admits his attack lie

A Sikh schoolboy, who prompted an inter-faith vigil to promote peace, respect and tolerance after claiming his hair was chopped off by racist thugs, invented the story.

The 15-year-old, in tears, gave a graphic description of a vicious verbal and physical attack by four white males who struck as he walked near his home in Edinburgh. His story was widely reported because of its unusually aggressive nature. It is the Sikh tradition for males to keep their hair uncut and not to shave their beard or moustache.

The teenager claimed that, after being punched and kicked, he fell to the ground, had his bandana-style head-covering torn off and his hair chopped off with a knife. At the time community leaders explained that a Sikh's hair is sacred, and for someone to cut it off in such an attack was akin to someone taking his life.

Police investigating the claims questioned more than 120 people and studied hours of CCTV footage.

In addition, the vigil was held to promote inter-faith tolerance. It was attended by hundreds of Sikhs who had travelled from across the UK, as well as by community leaders and representatives of other religions. Scores of residents from the shocked community turned out to express their support.

Although the boy did not require hospital treatment, it was reported that he had some bruising and swelling on his nose and cheeks. He also had racist remarks written on him.

But it has emerged that he cut off his own hair, punched himself in the face and concocted the story. It is understood he was experiencing personal problems. Sources say that he felt torn between his Sikh values and more westernised ones. They said he had wanted to get his hair cut for some time, but was afraid of the reaction of some members of his family and the Sikh community.

A source close to the investigation said: 'There were a lot of things that weren't adding up. There were severe doubts. Eventually he admitted he'd made the whole thing up.'

Lothian and Borders police confirmed that the reported attack had not taken place and said the boy had expressed deep regret for the consequences of what he had done. It is understood that no further action will be taken and the teenager will not be reported for wasting police time. Sikh leaders are expected to tell their community of the outcome at a service today.

Superintendent Ramzan Mohayuddin, area commander for North and Leith, urged people to accept that the boy acted not 'out of malice, but due to emotional pressures, including cultural identity issues'.

Last night the Edinburgh Sikh Gurudwara Committee released a statement thanking the police and all those from around the world who had offered support. It urged that the circumstances should not to be used to undermine the reality of real faith and race-hate crime, and said the matter was now one of child protection. 'It is obvious the boy has been suffering deep anguish and a crisis of faith which has resulted in him harming himself,' the statement said.

'We take a compassionate view and at the same time acknowledge the challenges our youth, and not just the Sikh youth, are facing in society at large. We will take this opportunity to ensure our young people feel able to discuss difficult matters on life and faith in a supportive environment.'

The Rev Donald Reid, co-convener of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association, said the incident highlighted the need for support, but also for 'the views, difficult realities and challenges of our youth to be heard and appreciated'.

Some people here said at the time that it might be a false attack, I had my doubts too. This is becoming a regular thing. Happened in Canada, happened in India, and now here in the UK.

[N30S1NGH]

This is becoming an common trend now. Our "Naive and sympathetic" Sikh panthic bodies should talk to the victim and interview the victim, make the victim take lie detactor test before helding up large protest.

This would ensure the victim story is genuine before protest is held and media gets involved and most importanly it would save lot of embrassement of sikh community in the west just because one twat decides to make up hair cut story to save his own arse. Also it would save lot of resources used in protest eg- time, money, organizing an event etc.

Note : i said naive and sympathetic sikh panthic bodies because i think they do seva in good intention however not neccessarily in a smart way.

[ISDhillon]

well what have we learned?

I dont care about the money or the protests or even the lie, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?????????

My mother had a sister who married my dads brother she never wanted to get married to him but feared for her life, so she made a plan, she knew that there was no way she could get out of the marriage ceremony so she got married in front of 800 people, 2 days later she went to work and nobody saw her after a month was up she came back with half of scotland yard our street was teeming with cops, who basically escorted her into our house whilst she got her passport and her belongings, why did she not go to the cops before the marriage?, she put herself in the public eye shamed our whole family and was protected for the rest of her life, she is now one of the richest women in the uk because she set herself free, but none of our family talk to her not even my parents, why? - FILTHY PRIDE!!!!!!!

"Life put me in an ugly situation, they say the land does not exist beneath my feet, and when I walk the whole world acknowledges me, but will you ever admit your mistake?"

I hope people understand my quote,

Indy

[kurtas]

This is becoming an common trend now. Our "Naive and sympathetic" Sikh panthic bodies should talk to the victim and interview the victim, make the victim take lie detactor test before helding up large protest.

This would ensure the victim story is genuine before protest is held and media gets involved and most importanly it would save lot of embrassement of sikh community in the west just because one twat decides to make up hair cut story to save his own arse. Also it would save lot of resources used in protest eg- time, money, organizing an event etc.

Note : i said naive and sympathetic sikh panthic bodies because i think they do seva in good intention however not neccessarily in a smart way.

Spot on. Too many times now we have had kids crying wolf. It is time we investigated the facts and even went as far as conducting lie detector tests before sending coaches left right and centre.

[Revolutionary]

WHAT A PR**!!!!

I cant beleive it.. what the H*LL?!?! I wonder what non-Sikhs would think of this..

ARGH!! stupid coward!

[ms514]

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

That kid should pay. Some sort of lawsuit or jailtime for that little punk. He deserves it and more at least...what he really deserves is an old-school pind kutaapaa from everyone. I am tired of hearing of these cases which make victims of those real hate-crimes that Sikhs face. The police will not be so quick to react next time a case is reported, all cause this kid did not have the guts to do something openly.

Stiff penalties are the only way to prevent this stuff from happening again...

He should pay dearly.

[Akhoza]

OH MY DAYZ, thank God i didnt waste my money and go to the protest , well i want to swear at him but i cant since id get banned and well i understand what he means by being torn between 2 different worlds but he did go a step too far by making this story up

[Japo_Taa_Eko_Naamaa - VAAHEGUROO]

lai taa! kinaa pungaa paa taa gandhe munde ne. chal.

[Japo_Taa_Eko_Naamaa - VAAHEGUROO]

imagine this really happened somewhere, no-one is going to believe it because they gonna fink its a lie, WHAT A BIG POOPY FACE SMELLY STUPID PUNGAA BOY!!!

[Japo_Taa_Eko_Naamaa - VAAHEGUROO]

BUT!! imagine it wasn't a lie! the family could be tellin the boy to say that he did it himself because they dont want to have any problems with any of those kinda gore (not all the gore obviously, just the evil ones) or anyone else....