“They called me a disgrace to Sikhism”: LGBTQ fashion creator recounts brutal attack in Delhi

A few months ago, fashion designer and content creator Param Sahib Singh shared a heart-breaking video on Instagram, showing the wreckage of his vandalised studio. The space, once full of colour and creativity, had been reduced to chaos after an unknown group broke in and destroyed his belongings.Now, months later, Param has shared another deeply distressing experience - this time, a physical assault in broad daylight in the heart of New Delhi.

In a video posted to his Instagram, Param spoke about how he was attacked in Connaught Place while shooting a winter haul video with his team. “This is unfortunately the second attack that has happened on me in the past six months,” he said, visibly shaken.According to his account, the designer was shooting content across different parts of CP when he realised he was being followed by three men.

“They recognised me from my Instagram videos and were definitely part of the hate community that has formed against me on social media,” he said.As Param wrapped up the shoot and started walking towards his cab near the Emporio area, the men found their moment. “They attacked me from behind. They covered my face with a cloth, dragged me to the ground, and started hitting me - my face, my nose, my body, everywhere they could,” he recalled.

During the attack, the men hurled homophobic and casteist slurs at him, calling him names like hijra, sartaar, and chakka. “I could hear them saying that I’m a disgrace to Sikhism,” Param said, his voice trembling in the video.

The assault lasted for several minutes before he managed to regain consciousness. “When I got up, all my belongings were scattered on the floor. I somehow picked them up and called Jatin from my team.

He reached in about 10-15 minutes, and we went to get my wounds treated,” he said.Despite friends advising him not to post about the incident, Param chose to speak out. “I’m here telling you that this is the reality of us living in a democracy and this fight is not over,” he said, showing visible bruises and swelling on his face.Param also revealed that this wasn’t the first time he had been targeted. “Earlier this year, they attacked my office.

They destroyed everything there. Now, they’ve attacked me,” he said.The designer, who has long been celebrated for his vibrant and unapologetic sense of style - blending Sikh identity with queer expression, said that while he continues to receive immense love and support both online and offline, such incidents take a heavy emotional toll.

“There is so much love and support from my friends, family, and extended community.

But still, these moments leave me so vulnerable and knocked down that coming out of it each time becomes so tiring,” he shared.Param ended his message with a powerful reflection on the mental and emotional burden of living as a queer person in India’s capital. “This is also a harsh reality of me living as an independent queer person in a national capital like Delhi,” he said.His words have since sparked conversations online about the safety of LGBTQIA+ individuals, hate crimes, and the emotional cost of being visibly queer in India. While the attack is deeply disturbing, Param’s courage in speaking out once again shines a light on the urgent need for acceptance, empathy, and stronger protection for queer voices in public spaces.