Sikh celebration in Southampton is cancelled over safety fears after riots following Henry Nowak murder

Published: 11:43, 5 June 2026 | Updated: 11:47, 5 June 2026 A Sikh celebration in Southampton has been cancelled due to safety concerns after the riots in the city earlier this week following Henry Nowak's murder.  Southampton was rocked by violent disorder on Tuesday evening after Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed on Monday for a minimum of 21 years after he stabbed Henry to death last year.   Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police have come under intense scrutiny for their conduct after they handcuffed Henry and ignored his pleas that he had been stabbed and couldn't breathe. Digwa, who is a Sikh, had lied to police that he had been the victim of a racist attack at the hands of Henry. A funeral home in the city had planned to host an open afternoon today for Sikh residents and the wider community with the mayor and local councillors invited. The event was to celebrate the life of Sikh man Gian Singh-Chungh, Tracey Burrows-Chungh's father-in-law. Mr Singh-Chungh died in December 2025 at the age of 87. The event was also due to remember his late wife, Gurbax Kaur-Chungh, who died in 2014. However, after the protests earlier this week, the event has now been cancelled.  A protests hurls a brick at police in Southampton during unrest on Tuesday. Now, a Sikh celebration in the city has been cancelled due to safety concerns Vickrum Digwa (pictured), 23, was jailed on Monday for a minimum of 21 years after he stabbed Henry to death The protests in Southampton followed the murder of Henry Nowak (pictured) in December last year  Tracey Burrows-Chungh, who has worked as a funeral director for five years, said the event due to be on Friday was cancelled after what she described as 'riots.' She said: 'It's due to the recent events and worrying about the health and safety of our staff and the community. We're on the fence here, it's worrying times.' The celebration was due to be held at pubs and hotels across Southampton. Ms Burrows-Chungh's husband and Mr Singh-Chungh's youngest son, Joga Chungh said his father, had he been alive, would have been 'disappointed' after Digwa murdered Henry. 'It's not something that happens regularly, thank god,' he said. 'He was part of the committee of the local Gurdwara on Cranbury Avenue, and he would not have been happy at all about the actions of a member of the Sikh community.' Southampton is home to a sizeable and prominent Sikh community including Satvir Kaur - one of the local Labour MPs. Speaking about the reaction since Digwa's sentencing, Mr Chungh said: 'There is a small minority that think that anyone that wears a turban is of the same mindset.' The event was to celebrate the life of Sikh man Gian Singh-Chungh (pictured). He died in December 2025 at the age of 87. The event was also due to remember his late wife, Gurbax Kaur-Chungh, who died in 2014. Mr Singh-Chungh and his late wife, Gurbax Kaur-Chungh, who died in 2014. The celebration was due to be held at pubs and hotels across Southampton He added that seeing reports of other Sikhs receiving threats has led to him not going out as much as he would normally. Of her father-in-law, Ms Burrows-Chungh said: 'He was just a really lovely guy, and he worked so hard to achieve what he did, he was so proud of being the first Asian publican. 'I just wanted to make us all feel better and put a bit of love in the community.' The event was meant to celebrate the wider Sikh community and all the families that she and the funeral home have taken care of over the years. She said: 'What's happened is harrowing, someone lost their life in a terrible way. 'This is one individual family that has upset the world really.' Ms Burrows-Chungh, who married into a Sikh family, said she always felt 'very safe, included, respected' by the community. She said: 'They are lovely people, they are humble people and they work so hard for their status here and to be included. Protesters hurl bins at police officers during the unrest in Southampton on Tuesday  'This particular family have gone and caused carnage, it's affecting my work and it's affecting everyone.' She added: 'It's frightening that riots are happening, especially for people living in Southampton. 'I see it from both ways, I just think it's awful what happened.' She said: 'It's just so harrowing, we just feel for the family, I have kids that age and it just breaks my heart. 'My heart goes out to the boy's family and to the Sikh community.' The demonstrations on Tuesday saw 11 police officers and a police dog injured. Yesterday, two people appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court - Daniel Frost, 44, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing a dog lead with a metal carabiner and Matt Styler, 50, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer. Today, a further three people - Connor Bishop, 24, Reece Robinson, 21, and Noah Etherington, 18, have been charged with violent disorder. A flare thrown at police during the demonstrations in Southampton earlier this week  They are due to appear at Southampton Magistrate’s Court today. The conduct of the officers who arrested Henry is now being investigated by the police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the Chief Constable of the force, Alexis Boon, has apologised to the teenager's family.  Despite Henry's father, Mark Nowak, making a plea outside the court on Monday for his son's murder not to be used to 'create further hatred, division or tension', hundreds of people descended on Southampton on Tuesday - including far-right activists such as Tommy Robinson. The protest started outside Southampton Police Station before moving closer to Digwa's family home where bins were set on fire and residents' cars were vandalised. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer described the demonstrations as 'disgraceful and completely unacceptable'. The PM said: 'Henry Nowak's family have shown extraordinary dignity after their son's life was stolen in appalling circumstances. He was clearly a kind and thoughtful and much-loved young man. 'There are serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking, and we are supporting the IOPC to get to the bottom of what happened.  'But no matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for more violence and disorder. The attacks directed towards police officers in Southampton last night were disgraceful and completely unacceptable.' Sir Keir added that anyone found to have been involved in the disorder would meet 'the full force of the law'.  The Daily Mail has approached Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary for comment. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.