CPOCanada Peace Observatory
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Sikh international student swarmed and beaten at a Kelowna bus stop; turban torn off

Kelowna, British Columbia — 2023-03-17

A young Sikh international student was attacked after getting off a bus in Kelowna, B.C., on the evening of 17 March 2023. RCMP said a group who had been taunting him on the bus struck him from behind and assaulted him; he was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Members of the local Sikh community said his turban was knocked off and taken and he was dragged by the hair, and called for the assault to be investigated as a hate crime. RCMP said the investigation was at an early stage.

EvidenceReported / Pending Review

Information has been received or identified, but assessment is not complete.

Violence type
Hate-Motivated Violence
Motive
Bias/Hate (alleged)
Category
Hate and identity-based incidents
Targeted identities
Sikh
Conduct
Physical violence
Targeted community
Religion — Sikh
Source type
News reporting
Perpetrator
Group of youths (unidentified)
Target
Sikh international student
Killed
0
Injured
1
Arrested
0
Themes
None
Source
CBC News
Last reviewed
2026-10-13 · 1 correction