Hindu Indian American charged with hate crime for threats to Sikh org

A Hindu Indian-origin resident of Texas has been charged with a federal hate crime and for violent threats towards an American Sikh non-profit organization, including a threat to “shave” their employees.

Bhushan Athale, a 48-year-old based in Dallas, faces sentencing for his actions in threatening Sikh staff of the unnamed org with a dangerous weapon and one count of an interstate threat to injure another person. These charges stem from incidents that occurred in 2022 and 2023, in what is a disturbing example of Hindutva (Hindu extremism) in the USA.

On 17th September 2022, Athale made a series of threatening calls to an organization that advocates for the civil rights of Sikh individuals in the United States. Over the course of an hour, Athale left seven voicemails that expressed extreme hatred toward Sikhs, which included threats to kill or injure the org’s staff. In his voicemails, Athale stated his intention to “catch” the Sikhs at the organization, and forcibly “shave” them. He threatened to use a razor to forcibly “cut” their hair and make them bald, and he also mentioned forcing them to smoke and eat tobacco, saying he would “show [them] the heaven”. Tobacco consumption and cutting hair are forbidden in Sikhi, with Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs committing to never partake in either. Many Sikhs have historically have sacrificed their lives rather than do either act.

The harassment did not stop there. In March 2023, Athale again called the same Sikh organd left two more voicemails. These messages were similarly filled with violent imagery and hatred, this time extending to Muslims as well. He suggested that the Indian Government and Mumbai Police should “catch them and beat their ass” and used further
obscenities towards the Sikh org’s staff.

The investigation into Athale’s actions revealed a long history of making religious-based hate comments and threats. He previously used a professional networking site to express hatred toward Pakistan and Muslims to a former co-worker, stating, “I hate you, I just don’t know how to kill your whole family including you? Tell me??? I will figure it out. Probably I will hire a Jew, they will be most happy”.

If convicted, Athale faces a maximum penalty of 10-years in prison for interfering with federally protected activities and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for transmitting an interstate threat. Both charges also carry a penalty of up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing
Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Read the official legal notice on Athale’s crimes here.

There has been a notable increase in anti-Sikh hate crime in the US, from both American citizens in racist and Islamophobic attacks, and from some Indians who believe in Hindu supremacy and view Sikhs as against Indian nationalism, which is entwined with Hindutva due to the belief of India belonging to Hindus.

The charge against Athale comes after years of amplified anti-Sikh hate, allowed to grow on social media sites like Twitter/X, as well as the Indian State’s own direct anti-Sikh transnational repression campaign.

Read about an Indian nationalist fanatic rampaging through a California Gurdwara last year here.