Sikh Group Demands Investigation into Henry Nowak’s Death
Advocacy for Public Inquiry
Sikh group calls for inquiry into – A Sikh advocacy group has urged the government to launch a public inquiry into the circumstances of Henry Nowak’s death. The 18-year-old student was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, in December 2025. Digwa claimed the knife he used was part of his Sikh faith, but the incident has sparked controversy over the interpretation of religious symbols as weapons.
Bodycam Evidence and Inquest
Hampshire police released bodycam footage with the family’s consent, revealing Nowak repeatedly gasping, “I can’t breathe” as he lay handcuffed and bleeding. A jury inquest will examine the broader context of his death in 2027. The coroner, Jason Pegg, noted that while the criminal trial established the cause of death, further inquiry is needed to determine if any police actions contributed to the tragedy.
Legal Context of the Kirpan
Under UK law, Sikhs may legally carry a kirpan—a small ceremonial blade—near their body for religious purposes. Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 allows such defense, but using the weapon in aggression classifies it as an offensive tool. The law also covers other cultural blades, like the sgian dubh in Scottish Highland attire.
Dispute Over the Murder Weapon
Digwa was found in possession of two knives. While the kirpan was his primary blade, the trial judge identified a larger dagger—described as a pesh-kabz, a Persian weapon designed to pierce chainmail—as the actual murder tool. The Southampton Sikh Federation previously stated this blade was not a kirpan, and the Network of Sikh Organisations echoed that, calling it a cultural accessory rather than a religious item.
Community Fallout and Calls for Accountability
Dabinderjit Singh, the Sikh Federation’s political engagement director, highlighted the fallout: “At least a dozen” incidents of abuse against Sikhs in Southampton have been reported since the case. “People can’t do their daily jobs, schoolchildren are being harassed,” he said. “In court, they said ‘Digwa claimed it was his kirpan.’ He was a liar and a murderer.”
“People can’t do their daily jobs, school children at school are being harassed,” said Singh. “In the court they said ‘Digwa said it was his Kirpan.’ Well he was a liar – he’s a liar and he’s a murderer.”Singh criticized the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) investigation as “entirely insufficient.” Meanwhile, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced a review of anti-racism guidance, which some argue influenced how officers handled the arrest.
Prosecution and Systemic Concerns
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Digwa carried two ceremonial knives, aligning with the judge’s ruling that the kirpan was used in the attack. Singh emphasized that systemic biases and inadequate risk assessments might have played a role in Nowak’s death. “A wider inquiry must establish why critical intelligence failed to alert officers, and whether cultural perceptions led to his criminalization,” he wrote.
“A wider inquiry must establish why this critical intelligence failed to inform the responding officers’ risk assessments, and whether systemic biases contributed to the immediate criminalisation of a dying victim,” Singh wrote.Judge William Mousley KC noted during sentencing that Nowak’s survival depended on the speed of first aid and medical intervention. The inquest, scheduled for 20 September 2027, will assess whether any officer’s actions or inactions were pivotal in the tragedy.
