The conviction of a British-born Sikh man for killing an 18-year-old university student with a kirpan has triggered a fresh debate in the UK over whether the ceremonial dagger should continue to be allowed in public places under religious exemptions.
UK Sikh Murder Conviction Triggers Political Storm Over Carrying Kirpan In Public Places#kirpan #UKSikh https://t.co/mISlsyr2GC
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A jury at Southampton Crown Court this week found Vickrum Singh Digwa guilty of murdering Southampton University student Henry Nowak using a 21cm kirpan. Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, an Indian national, was also convicted after removing the weapon from the scene following the attack. Digwa is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, 1st June, while Kaur is due to be sentenced on 17th July.
The case has led to political calls for tighter laws on carrying bladed items. MP Rupert Lowe demanded that kirpans be banned in public spaces, while MP Robert Jenrick wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeking a parliamentary debate on what he described as concerns over two-tier policing.
Sikh groups clarify position
Amid the controversy, the Sikh Federation UK said the law only protects practising Sikhs who carry a kirpan for genuine religious reasons. The organisation stressed that if a kirpan is used in a violent attack, the legal defence no longer applies and the weapon is treated as an offensive weapon under the law.
Questions over police response
The case has also sparked criticism of the actions of police officers who arrived at the scene. According to evidence heard in court, Digwa falsely told officers that he had been racially abused and attacked. Believing his account, officers initially handcuffed Henry Nowak.
It was only later that officers realised the teenager had been stabbed and was critically injured. They then began providing first aid.
Opposition politicians have demanded the release of police body-camera footage from the incident. Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey said carrying a blade in public is dangerous and that describing a weapon as ceremonial cannot excuse its use in a killing.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp strongly criticised the police response, saying it was shocking that Henry was handcuffed despite telling officers that he had been stabbed. He argued that officers appeared more focused on claims of a racist remark than on helping a seriously injured teenager.
Public anger and investigation
Following the verdict, protesters gathered outside Southampton Central police station. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in on the case, posting on X that he would fund a wrongful-death lawsuit against the police officers involved.
Hampshire Police have since apologised for handcuffing Nowak and referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The watchdog has launched an investigation into officers’ contact with the teenager before his death, including the use of handcuffs and the medical assistance provided at the scene.
As the sentencing approaches, the focus has shifted beyond the murder case itself, with growing calls from some politicians and members of the public to review or end the legal exemption that allows practising Sikhs to carry kirpans in the UK.
