Edison officials meet with Indian leaders

Home News Tribune Online 08/24/06

By GINA VERGEL
STAFF WRITER
gvergel@thnt.com

EDISON — Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes, D-Middlesex, engineered a meeting between township officials, a few members of the Indian community and the county prosecutor yesterday afternoon.



"We're moving forward and trying to resolve the issues," Barnes said of the nearly two-hour meeting. "It was very professional, very amiable and very productive."

Barnes said he met with Indian community activist Peter Kothari last week.

"I asked him if he would be willing to meet with (Mayor Jun Choi) and (Chief of Police George Mieczkowski) because they had an impasse and he agreed," Barnes added.

Kothari, owner of Quick Travel in Iselin and an advocate for the Indian community, said the meeting went well, and all issues were discussed, but refused to elaborate on specifics.

Following the meeting, which was held at 4 p.m. at Barnes' legislative office on Stephenville Parkway, Barnes released a statement saying the focus was "to develop a strategy in order to build trust between the Police Department and all members of the community, including the Indian-American community."

A follow-up meeting between all parties is planned, Barnes added. He said details about a plan for community outreach into the Indian community will be developed and implemented.

Choi called the meeting positive.

"It was a conversation to bring our community together," Choi said. "I want to thank Assemblyman Barnes for hosting it."

Barnes' statement said all parties agreed the "circumstances surrounding the arrest of (Edison resident) Mr. Rajnikant Parikh July 4, 2006, would be resolved by and through the judicial system."

Parikh's July 4 arrest at an illegal fireworks display at Hilltop Apartments led to much of the current discord between Edison and the Indian community.

Parikh, 30, was charged with assaulting a police officer that night. The 30-year-old alleged he was attacked by police during the arrest. Indian leaders demanded the suspension of the police officer who arrested Parikh.

An internal investigation by Edison later cleared that officer.

That arrest, however, led to a rally at the Edison Municipal Complex in early August during which Parikh was arrested by immigration officials, who said Parikh was wanted on a deportation order. Parikh's attorney has filed notice of intent to file a suit against the township over the immigration-related arrest.

Barnes statement said those who attended the meeting yesterday agreed that the circumstances surrounding Parikh's Aug. 2 arrest "by Immigration Customs Enforcement would also be resolved through the judicial system."

There was no announcement for yesterday's meeting, Barnes said, because "we just wanted to have a quiet meeting. It's a little more productive that way."