Florida: A petition has been submitted requesting a review of the case of an Indian-origin truck driver who caused an accident that killed three people in the city. The online petition, posted on the website Change.org in support of 28-year-old Harjinder Singh, had garnered about 2.5 million signatures by Sunday afternoon. The petition, addressed to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency, seeks to drop the manslaughter charges.
The accident occurred when a minivan collided with a truck driven by Harjinder Singh, an undocumented immigrant. The incident happened on August 12 on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce, where the truck made an illegal U-turn. All three occupants of the minivan died. Harjinder Singh was arrested in Stockton, California, on August 16 and was denied bail due to his undocumented status and the risk of him fleeing the country.
Meanwhile, the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has also appealed to Jaishankar, requesting legal and consular support for Singh. In a statement, NAPA’s executive director Satnam Singh Chahal said, “The accident was an unfortunate incident, and while due legal process will take its course, it is essential that Singh’s rights are protected.” Chahal further warned that the incident has generated fear among thousands of Punjabi truckers, many of whom now worry about discrimination and job insecurity.
Calls for a balanced and transparent approach are growing, with Indian diaspora groups and human rights organisations urging both the Indian and US governments to handle the matter with sensitivity. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue a formal statement on the case. (PTI)
