In an obvious hate crime, a 21-year-old Sikh pupil from India was attacked in Canada’s British Columbia province by a gaggle of unknown males who ripped off his turban and dragged him throughout the sidewalk by his hair, in response to a media report.
Gagandeep Singh was assaulted when he was heading house on Friday evening, CTV information reported.
Councillor Mohini Singh stated she heard of the assault shortly after it occurred and went to go to Gagandeep.
“I used to be horrified after I noticed him. He may solely converse in tender tones and he could not open his mouth,”‘ she informed the information channel.
She stated the younger man’s eyes have been swollen shut and that he was clearly in important ache.
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The councillor says she was informed that Gagandeep was heading house round 10:30 pm after grocery purchasing when he encountered a gaggle of between 12 and 15 different younger individuals on the bus. It was St. Patrick’s Day and Mohini Singh says a rowdy group was on the bus, throwing a wig round.
“They have been harassing him they usually threw the wig at him. He informed them to not trouble him or he’d name the police, they usually continued to harass him,” she stated.
Gagandeep acquired off the bus.
“They acquired off after him, waited for the bus to go away after which they swarmed him, they beat him in his face, in his ribs, arms, and legs after which proceeded to seize his turban, pull his hair and drag him,” Mohini Singh stated, including that the group took the turban with them after they left Gagandeep in a pile of “soiled snow” on the facet of the street.
“Taking his turban was the worst, it looks like they’ve taken it as a trophy.”
After he regained consciousness, Gagandeep referred to as a buddy who got here to the scene and referred to as 911.
Mohini Singh stated that Gagandeep’s buddies and fellow worldwide college students have been left shaken and scared by the assault, prompting a gathering on the bus cease Sunday the place they spoke out about how they really feel much less secure of their group.
The councillor says the truth that Gangandeep is Sikh and from India was “undoubtedly” an element within the assault.
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“I solely imagine that is racism and it ought to be handled as that. It ought to be checked out by means of the lens of being a hate crime. That is so incorrect on so many ranges. This isn’t one thing that’s acceptable anyplace — not in Kelowna, not anyplace,” she stated.
“That is insupportable, it is completely disgusting.”
The Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in a press release, confirmed that they’re investigating after somebody was “hit from behind and assaulted” by a gaggle of individuals on the bus cease Friday night and that responding officers discovered the sufferer “laying on the bottom.” No particulars about accidents have been supplied however authorities stated the sufferer was taken to hospital by paramedics.
“The Kelowna RCMP take this very severely and are involved that this sort of crime has occurred in our metropolis,” spokesperson Constable Mike Della-Paolera stated.
“This assault is the highest precedence for our investigators.”