Indian Sikh Student Assaulted in Canada, Turban Ripped off, Dragged Across Sidewalk

In an obvious hate crime, a 21-year-old Sikh scholar 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, based on a media report.

Gagandeep Singh was assaulted when he was heading residence on Friday night time, CTV information reported.

Councillor Mohini Singh mentioned 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 communicate in smooth tones and he couldn’t open his mouth,”’ she informed the information channel.

She mentioned the younger man’s eyes have been swollen shut and that he was clearly in important ache.

The councillor says she was informed that Gagandeep was heading residence round 10:30 pm after grocery buying when he encountered a gaggle of between 12 and 15 different younger folks 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 and so they threw the wig at him. He informed them to not trouble him or he’d name the police, and so they continued to harass him,” she mentioned.

Gagandeep received off the bus.

”They received 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 mentioned, including that the group took the turban with them once they left Gagandeep in a pile of ”soiled snow” on the facet of the street.

”Taking his turban was the worst, it appears like they’ve taken it as a trophy.” After he regained consciousness, Gagandeep known as a good friend who got here to the scene and known as 911.

Mohini Singh mentioned 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 in their neighborhood.

The councillor says the truth that Gangandeep is Sikh and from India was ”undoubtedly” an element in the assault.

”I completely consider that is racism and it needs to be handled as that. It needs to be checked out by way of the lens of being a hate crime. This is so incorrect on so many ranges. This shouldn’t be one thing that’s acceptable anyplace — not in Kelowna, not anyplace,” she mentioned.

”This is insupportable, it’s 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 offered however authorities mentioned the sufferer was taken to hospital by paramedics.

”The Kelowna RCMP take this very severely and are involved that this kind of crime has occurred in our metropolis,” spokesperson Constable Mike Della-Paolera mentioned.

”This assault is the highest precedence for our investigators.”

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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)