The burned gas station building belonging to Sarabjit Singh and Sukhjinder Singh in Chesterfield, VA. (Photo: Courtesy, Amandeep Singh Sandhu)

A gas station owned by two Sikhs in Chesterfield, VA, was vandalized and set on fire, according to the Sikh Coalition. The attack appeared to have been prompted by racial motivations although police sources did not officially say so.

The coalition, which monitors race-related issues concerning the Sikh community in the U.S., said the gas station owned by Sarabjit Singh and Sukhjinder Singh was smeared with graffiti with ethnic slurs.

The graffiti on a dumpster near the gas station read ‘Go Back to Bin Laden B...,’ ‘Never Again Indian Monkey Nig***’ and ‘F*** Arab Gas.’

The coalition has reported the matter to both the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department and the FBI. The Chesterfield County police is investigating the incident.

Graffiti were painted on the dumpsters outside gas stations belonging to Sarabjit Singh and Sukhjinder Singh in Chesterfield, VA. (Photo: Courtesy, Amandeep Singh Sandhu)

“This is a difficult moment for the Sikh community of the Richmond area,” Amandeep Singh, a long time resident of Chesterfield, was quoted as saying. “We are pleased with the cooperation of the local county police and their determination to find the perpetrators of the unfortunate incident,” he said.

Even as the coalition appealed the Richmond area Sikh community to stay calm, police assured the community that all leads were being pursued, including the possible hate motive.

Sikhs have been a frequent target of attacks in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Because of their turbans, beards and attires, Sikh men have been branded as supporters of Osama bin Laden.

(Compiled from news dispatches by M. Chooki)