NEW YORK: Outraged by a high school student setting afire a Sikh schoolmate's "patka" in New Jersey, the community has demanded an inquiry into the unprovoked attack and asked the school to foster religious harmony. Police are investigating the incident which occurred on May 5 in Hightstown High School in Mercer County in New Jersey during a fire drill.

The Sikh student, who is a teenager and would not like to be identified, was chatting with a friend when another student, whom he did not know, came up from behind and set his "patka", or small turban, on fire using a lighter. A teacher helped him to put out the fire. The "patka," shown by his relatives, had at least two big burn holes.

The student suffered minor burns but the incident has sparked outrage in the Sikh community which has also asked the school to do more to combat discrimination. The attacker, identified as an 18-year-old Hightstown senior Garrett Green, was arrested hours later and charged with arson and criminal mischief. He has also been suspended from the school.

"No mother should have to worry that her child could be hurt at school because of the way he looks," said Sukhjot Kaur, the teenager's mother. The Sikh Coalition, a community organization, urged the school to conduct an assembly to explain what had happened and why the attacker's behavior was atrocious. "Hightstown High School has an obligation not only to ensure the safety of its pupils, but also to foster students' appreciation for their community's religious diversity," said Harsimran Kaur, Staff Attorney, Sikh Coalition.

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