A man in Halifax recounted an incident where he faced racial abuse on a Saturday afternoon. Shalu Shajan, an immigrant from India, shared with CBC News that he had parked his car on Lower Water Street in downtown Halifax near Prince Street when a man carrying bagpipes intentionally struck his car’s side mirror with the instrument. Shajan approached the man, but instead of leaving, the man struck the trunk of his car as well, leading to a verbal altercation escalating into racial taunts and threats.
Witness Raven Fox, along with his girlfriend, observed the incident and confirmed a heated exchange between the two individuals. The aggressor hurled racist remarks, including telling Shajan to “go back to your country,” indicating a clear bias. Shajan expressed concern for his safety as the man yelled racist slurs in close proximity. When Shajan attempted to call 911, the aggressor walked away towards the waterfront.
Following the incident, Shajan took a photo of the man, reported the incident to Halifax Regional Police and the hate crime unit, and shared his experience on Facebook. The police are investigating whether the altercation qualifies as a hate crime based on Shajan’s account of the racist language directed at him. Shajan indicated his willingness to press charges, emphasizing that such behavior should not be tolerated.
Statistics from Statistics Canada reveal a concerning rise in reported hate crimes against South Asian Canadians, with incidents increasing from 167 in 2021 to 483 in 2025. The Indo-Canadian Association of Nova Scotia expressed deep concern over this incident, highlighting the broader impact of hate incidents on affected individuals and communities.
Shajan, who has encountered racist remarks previously, felt compelled to speak out publicly to aid the police investigation and ensure accountability. He stressed the importance of standing against such behavior to prevent its recurrence and safeguard others from similar experiences.
