A 17-year-old Sikh high school student was the victim of an alleged hate crime on September 11, 2023, in a distressing incident that occurred in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The young student was subjected to a brutal assault, which involved being physically attacked, including kicks and punches, and pepper-sprayed after an altercation with another teenager. This incident occurred at a bus stop near the intersection of Rutland Road South and Robson Road East.
Prior to the assault, an altercation had occurred aboard a public transit bus, resulting in the removal of those involved. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that the 17-year-old Sikh student was attacked after disembarking from the bus, with the involvement of another teenage male.
The Consulate General of India in Vancouver reacted strongly to this disturbing incident, issuing a call for Canadian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and take swift action against those responsible for the assault. This condemnation emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the need for justice.
The World Sikh Organisation of Canada has also raised concerns, asserting that the student faced aggression while still on the bus. Allegedly, two individuals prevented him from boarding, verbally threatened him, and recorded the incident with their mobile phones. The attack on the Sikh student turned violent in front of the bus driver, who did nothing to stop it and later ordered both the victim and the attackers to get off at a particular stop.
The victim continued to face violence even after leaving the bus, including being pepper-sprayed, until bystanders eventually intervened to help. This distressing incident, which marks the second occurrence of violence against Sikh youth on public transit in the city this year, has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of the Sikh community in Canada.
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