Last Updated: September 16, 2023, 08:55 IST
Monday’s attack on a Sikh high school student in Kelowna is shocking and unacceptable, Guntaas Kaur, WSO vice president for British Columbia was quoted as saying.. (Representative image: Reuters)
The Indian mission in Canada condemns the assault on a Sikh student in Kelowna, urging a swift investigation and action by Canadian authorities
The Indian mission in Canada has strongly condemned the assault on an Indian national in the British Columbia province and has requested Canadian authorities to take prompt action against the perpetrators.
A 17-year-old Sikh high school student was assaulted at a bus stop following an altercation with another teenager in Kelowna. The incident occurred on Monday in Kelowna at the intersection of Rutland Road South and Robson Road East, where the high school student was reportedly subjected to kicking and punching.
Canadian police said the Sikh student was either beer or pepper sprayed by another teenage male after exiting a public transit bus on his way home. “India in Vancouver strongly condemns assault on an Indian national in Kelowna and requests Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators,” the Indian mission said in a post on social media platform X.
@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— India in Vancouver (@cgivancouver) September 15, 2023
Local media reports said there was “an altercation” aboard a bus, which resulted in those involved being kicked off. Following the incident, the World Sikh Organisation of Canada has alleged that the student was also assaulted while aboard the vehicle.
“Two individuals approached the student and first barred his entry onto the bus and then, once allowing him to board, began to threaten him with a lighter and photograph and record him from a close distance with their phones,” the CTV news report quoted the organisation’s statement.
Monday’s attack on a Sikh high school student in Kelowna is shocking and unacceptable, Guntaas Kaur, WSO vice president for British Columbia said.
This is the second such instance of violence against a Sikh youth riding public transit in the city this year. Earlier in March, a 21-year-old Sikh student from India, Gagandeep Singh, was attacked in British Columbia province by a group of unknown men who ripped off his turban and dragged him across the sidewalk by his hair.
(With agency inputs)
