Indo-American Charged With Hate Crime After “Knockout” Assault Of Jewish Man

NEW YORK -New York Citypolice havearrested AmritMarajh oncharges ofassault as a hatecrime after a24-year-old sayshe was punchedin the face.Police Nov.23 were investigatingwhetherit was part of as o – c a l l e d” k n o c k o u t “assault, inwhich theobject is to knock out an unsuspectingperson with one punch.The man says he overheard agroup talking about it before hewas hit.Police say the victim toldthem he was walking inBrooklyn around 2:45 a.m. Nov.22 when he was struck once. Hewas not seriously injured.Marajh, 28, of Brooklyn, wasarrested on charges of assault asa hate crime and aggravatedharassment as a hate crimebecause the victim is Jewish. Itwasn’t clear if he had a lawyer.Three others taken into custodywere released.Police are investigating similarrecent incidents, including inNew Jersey, Pennsylvania andWashington, D.C. At least twodeaths have been linked to theattacks this year.Authorities and psychologistssay the “knockout” assaults havebeen around for decades — orlonger — and it’s played mostlyby impulsive teenage boys lookingto impress their friends.