"You have brought misery and a lifetime of loss"
The Sikh Federation (UK) has criticised the CPS and the police for their handling of the Henry Nowak murder case, specifically in relation to the murder weapon.
Vickrum Digwa was found guilty of murdering the Southampton University student after stabbing him.
During the trial, it was claimed that the murder weapon was a kirpan.
Under UK law, possession of a kirpan is permitted for religious and ceremonial reasons.
After Digwa’s conviction, Dabinderjit Singh, of the Sikh Federation (UK), said the Sikh community had witnessed a “huge increase in hate crime”.
He said: “Given the political environment, that rhetoric has made Sikhs really think ‘why are we being targeted? ‘
“Because this could happen to any community – an individual could break the law and murder someone but you wouldn’t demonise that entire community.”
Prominent right-wing figures, including Elon Musk, have criticised current UK law around carrying the kirpan.
The Sikh Federation (UK) has stated that the weapon used by Digwa was not a kirpan. However, the CPS did not make this clear.
The weapon is said to be of Persian origin and known by a completely different name.
The pesh-kabz is a Persian blade that became widespread in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal period.
Although it is unconfirmed that this is the actual type of knife used by Digwa, the blade length is similar.
Digwa was carrying a kirpan but he was also carrying another knife with a 21cm blade, which was used in the attack.
On June 1, 2026, Digwa was sentenced to life and must serve a minimum of 21 years.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge William Mousley KC told Digwa:
“You, Vickram Digwa, murdered him. By doing so, you robbed him of all those he loved, all the things he cared about and liked to do.
“You have brought misery and a lifetime of loss upon his family amd great sadness to everyone who knew him.”
The judge also confirmed that the kirpan Digwa was carrying was not the knife that killed Henry, adding:
“Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their safety.”
Despite sentencing, the CPS has not released a photograph of the weapon used to murder Henry Nowak.
But according to Sikh Federation (UK), Hampshire Police has confirmed that a kirpan was not used in the fatal attack.
Sikh Federation (UK) were forced to point this out when calls for the kirpan to be banned began.
Their letter to the Home Secretary pointed out that the weapon was not a kirpan and shared a photograph of a blade that was similar to the one used by Digwa.
This was after the defence lawyer for Digwa confirmed the name of the murder weapon following the guilty verdict.
The Sikh Federation (UK) called for those who made controversial statements based on incorrect information should recognise the facts and expose the CPS and police failings for unnecessarily bringing the kirpan into disrepute.
After Digwa’s sentencing, Sikh Federation (UK) representative Jas Singh spoke at a press conference at Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick.
He said the Sikh community has condemned Digwa for the murder of Henry Nowak and for falsely claiming he was a victim of racist abuse.
Jas Singh, representing the Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK speaking at a press conference at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick @GNGSmethwick following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa for 21 years for the murder of Henry Novak.
The Sikh community has unequivocally condemned in the… pic.twitter.com/XmLlNgkTqi
— Sikh Federation (UK) (@SikhFedUK) June 1, 2026
Mr Singh said: “We condemn this action, fully and in the strongest terms. There’s no space for this and anybody who has been convinced or unclear, we will be very categorical.
“This individual, Vickrum Digwa, lied in his statements. It is clear that he did not intend to go out to kill Henry Nowak.
“His intention wasn’t to seek confrontation or to have any altercation. It happened. They were out on the street, it happened, it escalated.
“After it escalated, as I said earlier, Vickrum had the choice. He chose to do what he did and for that he is solely responsible. But with that action, he has brought the whole Sikh community into the spotlight.
“Whether intended or unintended, we now have to deal with that and we now not only repair the damage done, but we have to collectively protect not only the community, but the Kakaar as well.
“So this was an important message that we had to share with you today, because we were restricted with what we could say formally on the television.
“But it was his choice to draw a weapon and to use it an offensive manner. That does not correlate with the Sikh tenants of the Sikh faith.
“We made that very clear.”
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