Canada: 17-Yr-Old Sikh Student Assaulted On Bus In British Colombia, 2nd Incident This Year

The Sikh student was assaulted after an altercation with the accused on a bus. Both got kicked out of the vehicle after the fight. The accused then allegedly used pepper spray against the victim.

A Sikh student was assaulted in Canada's British Colombia. (Representative Photo)

Source : Getty Images

A 17-year-old Sikh high school student was assaulted at a bus stop in Canada's British Columbia province on Monday in what appeared to be a case of hate crime. As per a report by CTV News, the incident occurred in Kelowna at the intersection of Rutland Road South and Robson Road East where the victim was allegedly "kicked, punched and pepper-prayed," reported news agency PTI. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police official, while talking about the matter, said, "Officers determined a 17-year-old Sikh student was either beer or pepper sprayed by another teenage male after exiting a public transit bus on his way home."

The official said that prior to the assault, there was an altercation that took place on the bus which resulted in both the victim and the accused getting kicked out of the vehicle.

CBC News quoted an official as saying, "Several witness statements have been obtained, and the teenage suspect in this incident has already been identified."

The World Sikh Organisation of Canada has alleged that the victim was also assaulted while he was in the vehicle. However, police have not released any more details, reported news agency PTI. The CTV News quoted the organisation as saying, "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."

WSO vice-president for British Columbia, Guntaas Kaur said, "Monday’s attack on a Sikh high school student in Kelowna is shocking and unacceptable."

As per the WSO, this is the second such instance of violence against a Sikh youth who was 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 by some unidentified men who ripped off his turban and then dragged Singh across the sidewalk by his hair, reported PTI.