BALTIMORE, MD, USA—Harpreet Singh, a well respected member of the Baltimore community was handcuffed and arrested by the police for carrying a kirpan.

Kirpan is a religious article of the Sikh faith. It’s a small sword, worn in a sheath on a strap or belt by initiated Sikhs. The word kirpan comes from two words which translate as mercy and bless. The kirpan is supposed to be a weapon of defence only.

“The police put me in handcuffs and drove me down to the precinct for wearing what they call a deadly weapon. They ignored all sentiments towards my religion and treated me as a threat to society,” Harpreet Singh posted on his Facebook account.

Harpreet Singh was in a grocery store when some other customers reported him the police. Singh was handcuffed and arrested by the police, however later released.

“A we live in a multicultural location Baltimore and we don’t know all of our neighbors this is a recipe for disaster shame on us,” he posted. “We give Amish people the opportunity to to practice their religion and not have to pay taxes their community owes the government millions and maybe billions of dollars in unpaid tax dues , the Quakers don’t have to go to war when there is a draft, but the Sikhs knife is too long come on man.”

American Knife and Tool institute website states that there is no ban on possession of any knife in Maryland; however, state law prohibits a person from carrying a “dangerous weapon” concealed on or about the person.

Video captured by Facebook user Rachel Lachow shows Harpreet Singh’s arrest by Baltimore police