India condemns assault on Sikh highschool pupil in Canada

India on Saturday strongly condemned an assault, together with using bear spray, on a 17-year-old Sikh highschool pupil in Canada’s British Columbia province this week and urged native authorities to research the incident and take immediate motion in opposition to the perpetrators.

The incident happened on September 11 when the Sikh pupil, who has not been named, was on his manner house from faculty in Kelowna.

Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) mentioned in a press release on September 11 that the assault occurred simply earlier than 4 pm at a bus cease on the intersection of Rutland Road and Robson Road within the Okanagan metropolis.

“Just prior to the bear spray incident, there was an altercation on the bus resulting in those involved being directed off of the bus. After exiting the bus, a second incident occurred where the suspect male deployed bear spray on the victim,” the assertion mentioned.

The Consulate General of India in Vancouver has strongly condemned the assault.

“@cgivancouver strongly condemns assault on an Indian national in Kelowna and requests Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators.@HCI_Ottawa @MEAIndia,” the Consulate mentioned on Saturday in a put up on X.

On September 13, Kelowna RCMP arrested the younger male concerned within the incidents that happened on and off a BC Transit bus on the intersection of Rutland Rd S and Robson Rd E on September 11.

Investigators will probably be conducting video evaluation and reviewing extra proof to find out what transpired on the bus previous to all events being directed off the bus…There is little question that the sufferer was bear sprayed and assaulted by the accused; this has been made fairly clear, RCMP mentioned in a press release.

The World Sikh Organisation of Canada launched a press release condemning the assault and mentioned the Sikh pupil couldn’t perceive why he was attacked on this manner. They additionally say the sufferer was a newcomer to Canada and was now afraid to return to Rutland Senior Secondary School, the place he studied, or take public transit, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Kelowna City Councillor Mohini Singh informed CBC News that the scholar had solely been within the metropolis for round 5 months and spoke little English. She known as the assault “totally unacceptable.”

“He loves going to school. He has a great rapport with his teachers. No problem there,” she mentioned. “He is absolutely traumatised. He’s in a state of shock.”

Singh mentioned she went to go to {the teenager}, and that he was hardly capable of carry his head from his chest and solely spoke a number of phrases.

“This has sent shockwaves through the community,” the councillor mentioned. “The Indo-Canadian community is shocked by this … this is absolutely despicable.”

It’s the second assault on a Sikh pupil within the central Interior metropolis this yr. On March 17, worldwide pupil Gagandeep Singh was additionally attacked as he left a B.C. Transit bus.

At the time, RCMP mentioned investigators have been consulting with their hate crimes unit.

Published On:

Sep 16, 2023