Vickrum Singh Digwa, a British-born Sikh, was convicted of murdering Southampton University student Henry Nowak with a 21-cm kirpan, a ceremonial Sikh dagger. This conviction has sparked widespread calls for a public ban on kirpans, even for religious exemptions. The jury's verdict also raised concerns about the police's handling of the situation, particularly after Digwa claimed racial abuse, which the court dismissed as a 'wicked lie.' Following the conviction, protests erupted outside Southampton Central Police Station, with local MPs, including Robert Jenrick and Rupert Lowe, demanding accountability and a parliamentary debate on the perceived two-tier policing. The UK Sikh Federation emphasized that while kirpans can be worn for religious reasons, they are considered offensive weapons if used in violence. Additionally, Hampshire Police issued an apology for handcuffing Nowak while he was critically injured, leading to calls for an independent investigation into their actions.