WASHINGTON (TIP): Expressing shock at the death of Sunande Sen, an Indian man, who was shoved to his death in front of an oncoming subway train in New York last week, Indian Americans have asked the department of justice and FBI to separately track hate crimes against religious minorities in the US. “Such a violent and hateful attack on any individual, especially because of religious hatred is completely unconscionable in any society” said Suhag Shukla, executive director and legal counsel for the Washington headquartered Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

“We need the department of justice (DOJ) to have a separate Hindu category to track anti Hindu hate crimes and urge Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to implement to raise the profile,” Hindu American Seva Communities (HASC) said.

Police have arrested 31-year-old Erika Menendez in connection with the case in New York, and charged her with second-degree murder as a hate crime. The defendant reportedly targeted 46- year old Sunando Sen out of hatred for Hindus and Muslims.

Menendez pushed an unsuspecting Sen on to the subway tracks in front of an oncoming train at a Queens station as he was waiting on the platform on the night of December 27. “Though there is high acceptance of our community in America, sometimes we see gaps through intolerance and violence. Unfortunately, innocent people are impacted when individuals turn against any group of people ,” HASC said. HASC expressed grief over Sen’s tragic death and showed concern over xenophobia against Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.