After reportedly attacking more than a dozen women throughout California, a man was arrested and charged with a string of hate crimes against Indian women. The accused allegedly targeted at least 14 elderly Hindu women of Indian origin during a two-month crime spree that started in June, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, according to ABC News.
Officials claim that the man specifically targeted Indian women who were wearing traditional clothing and jewellery. According to reports, he pulled their wrists and made an attempt to take their jewellery. According to CBS, the man even beat the woman’s husband during one of his robberies.
Prosecutors acknowledged that the majority of the robberies were recorded in South Bay cities like Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale. According to reports, almost all of the victims were wearing a sari, bindi, or other cultural clothing when the accused attacked them.
Prosecutors determined that the defendant stole necklaces worth at least $35,000 from the victims, who were aged 50 to 73.
According to local media sources, the suspect, 37-year-old Lathan Johnson of East Palo Alto, was detained by Santa Clara police and US Marshals.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen confirmed the attacks in a statement and said, “I say to our South Asian community that anyone who targets and attacks you will be arrested and treated with the utmost severity under our law.”
The attacks were initially recorded as “anti-South Asian” and were re-categorized as “anti-Hindu hate crimes” by the District Attorney, according to the Hindu American Foundation.
Speaking to a TV channel, DA Rosen said, “Ripping off their jewellery, dragging them down the street, breaking their writs, beating up their husband, terrorising them is much worse than a property thief.”
The Hindu American Foundation condemned the incidents and a member said, “We are facing an uptick in hate crimes and online Hindu-phobia. Seeing that we’re making progress in prosecuting to the fullest sends a strong message.”