The Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP) arrested a 25-year-old man from India on the charges of groping people at a water park. The name of the man is not revealed nor the fact that he is a Canadian citizen or not.
The arrested Indian is a resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia province. He allegedly was on a groping spree while walking inside the Magic Mountain SplashZone water park in Moncton City, New Brunswick province of Canada, inappropriately touching at least 12 people. The gravity of crime is intensified under Canadian laws as some of the victims are found to be under the age of 16.
The man was arrested after police received a complaint. He was later released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24.
The police officer with the Codiac Regional RCMP Sgt. Sylvette Hebert said “This is still an active investigation, and we are working diligently to understand if there were other victims” She also added “We are asking parents to speak to their children if they attended this location on July 7. We also want people to know that a sexual assault complaint can be made at any time. If you are a victim of sexual misconduct, please contact us. You will be listened to, and you will be believed.”
The photograph of the accused was posted by the mother of one of the minor girls who was allegedly groped. She claimed that the accused was at the water park with a group of other Indian men.
Such incidents bring infamy to the vast number of hard-working and law abiding Indian diaspora while reinforcing the cliche of a sex-starved Indian male going berserk at the slightest slight of white flesh. Indians regularly made themselves a pitiable laughing stock while ogling in groups at westeners on Goa beaches.
At the same time, it is uncertain if the accused is a victim of incomprehension of cultural differences. In India, touching even an unknown person is a norm and would not be considered offensive. The absolutely normal and even encouraged gestures in India context such as a pat of the shoulder, pinching of cheeks of young ones, a little caress on the head of Youngs by way of blessing are considered offensive and invasive in western culture, particularly between unrelated or unknown people.
