‘My turban gone, I felt dead, 2 white women helped’: 2 Sikh drivers attacked in England

Satnam Singh, 64, and Jasbir Sangha, 72, two Sikh taxi drivers, were working when they were reportedly violently attacked by a group of men near Wolverhampton Railway Station earlier this month.

I strongly condemn the recent hate crime attack on 2 elderly Sikh men, one of whom had his turban removed in Wolverhampton, England.

Such acts of violence are a stark reminder of the deep-seated racism that still plague our society.

The strictest action must be taken against… pic.twitter.com/cVsUjclw46

— Satnam Singh Sandhu (@satnamsandhuchd) August 18, 2025

According to the victims, the attackers used racist language and made aggressive demands before physically assaulting them.

Police are treating the case as a racially-aggravated assault.

The British Transport Police confirmed that three individuals — a 17-year-old boy and two men aged 19 and 25 — have been arrested in connection with the attack and released on bail pending further investigation.

Victims left injured and traumatised

Sangha suffered two broken ribs and continues to experience severe pain. Singh was kicked and punched, and said he was especially devastated when his turban was forcibly removed during the attack.

Speaking emotionally about the moment, Singh told BBC: “When I looked and saw my turban was gone, I felt like I was dead inside.”

In Sikhism, the turban is a sacred symbol representing spiritual identity and honour. Singh said the loss of his turban during the assault left him feeling deeply humiliated and shaken.

Sangha, who tried to defend his colleague, described being punched in the face and stomped on as he lay on the ground. “Anything could have happened. I could have been killed,” he said.

“Even now, simple movements like sitting, standing, or sneezing cause immense pain.” Both men expressed gratitude to two women who bravely intervened during the attack.

“One was young, the other older — both white women,” said Singh. “They were very, very helpful.”

Sangha added: “People around us were shouting at the attackers to stop. I really want to thank them for stepping in.”

The assault was captured on video by bystanders and has been viewed over a million times on social media, sparking outrage and calls for greater protection for vulnerable communities.