New York: An Indian-American, Amric Singh Rathour, plans to file a lawsuit against New York police department for allegedly discriminating against him for wearing beard and turban, which are required by the Sikh religion.

Rathour, who had qualified for the job traffic enforcement agent with the Department, was dismissed two months after he became an officer because his supervisors did not want him to wear beard and turban.

Police department had no comment on the case and said it would react only after receiving the lawsuit and the grounds on which it is filed.

His attorney Ravinder Bhalla said he plans to file the suit in US District Court in Manhattan against the police department, Commissioner Ray Kelly and the city for violation of his civil rights.

Earlier, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had filed his complaint.

PTI