Sikh group calls for inquiry into Henry Nowak death

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Sikh group calls for inquiry into Henry Nowak death12 minutes ago Share Save Add 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.

The Details

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 murder weapon. The Sikh Federation had previously said that blade was not a kirpan and in a statement the Network of Sikh Organisations agreed, describing it instead as a "Persian blade known as a pesh-kabz – designed to go through chainmail," that Digwa wore "as part of a Nihang (warrior-sect) subculture".

The Crown Prosecution Service said that Digwa chose to carry two ceremonial knives and that "the judge's finding of fact made clear that he agreed" with its assessment that it was a kirpan that Digwa chose to use. Verify explain the key moments of the police bodycam footageSpeaking to the , Singh said there have been "at least a dozen" stories of Sikhs in Southampton receiving physical or verbal abuse following the case. "People can't do their daily jobs, school children at school are being harassed," he said.

"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.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.