SANDWELL, WEST MIDLANDS, 18 October (H.S.): A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the rape of a Sikh woman in Oldbury on September 9, an attack previously described by police as racially motivated. The assault on the woman, who is in her 20s, sparked protests and vigils from the local Sikh community last month.
West Midlands Police detained the suspects—a 49-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman, both from Sandwell—on Friday morning. They were initially arrested on suspicion of rape following a separate incident in Halesowen on Thursday night, where a woman in her 30s was attacked in Hurst Green Park.
While investigating the Halesowen case, which is not being treated as racially aggravated, officers subsequently arrested the pair in connection with the Oldbury attack. Both remain in custody for questioning.
The Sikh Federation UK welcomed the arrests but questioned the time it has taken to make progress in the case. The September attack had prompted widespread concern, with MP Preet Gill highlighting a rise in hate crimes and Crimestoppers offering a £20,000 reward for information. The Sikh community also offered a £10,000 reward. The victim’s family stated they could only begin to rebuild their lives once the perpetrators were brought to justice.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
