Avtar Singh, 52, a Phoenix truckdriver who is a member of the Sikh
religion, was shot Monday, apparently because he appeared Middle Eastern
to his shooters, The Associated Press reported.
Sikh men, who mostly hail from India, typically wear a blue turban
and an untrimmed beard. They have been frequently mistaken for Muslims
in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
According to press reports, shortly after Singh parked his 18-wheeler
Monday, two white men in a pickup drove up, started yelling at Singh
to "go back to where you belong to," and then shot him. The trucker
was struck in the leg and abdomen, The AP reported.
Singh was taken to a Phoenix hospital. Police are investigating.
