Sikh group calls for inquiry into Henry Nowak death

Sikh group calls for inquiry into Henry Nowak death11 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePA MediaDabinderjit Singh, chief executive for political engagement at the Sikh Federation, attended a march in London on SundayThe government should hold a public inquiry into the "failures" surrounding the death of Henry Nowak, a Sikh lobby group has said.The 18-year-old student was killed in Southampton by Vickrum Digwa, 23, in December 2025, using a knife he said he carried as part of his Sikh religion.Dabinderjit Singh, the Sikh Federation's chief executive of political engagement, has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Justice Secretary David Lammy and Attorney General Richard Hermer.Singh said misinformation about the murder weapon had been "highly damaging" to Sikhs and "serious questions" remain about whether Nowak's death was preventable.It comes after bodycam footage, released by Hampshire police with permission from Nowak's family, showed him repeatedly telling police officers "I can't breathe" as he lay dying in handcuffs after being stabbed by Digwa. A jury inquest is set to be held next year investigating the broader circumstances of the death.Under current legislation, a practising Sikh may wear a small blade, known as a kirpan, close to the body but drawing it in an act of aggression is illegal.Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, states that it shall be a defence for a person charged with having an article with blade or point in public place to prove that they had the article with them for religious reasons.This legislation also applies to anyone wearing it as part of national dress, such as a sgian dubh blade worn as part of Scottish Highland dress.If the item is used in an act of violence then it is deemed an offensive weapon.While Digwa was wearing a small kirpan knife, his second blade, described by the trial judge as "a large Sikh dagger", was used as the murd...