AN 89-year-old turbaned Sikh had to undergo surgery after he was pushed to the ground by a complete stranger in Abbotsford in what is apparently a racist attack.
His grandson told the media that the victim had just got off the bus on Friday at about 11 a.m. at Clearbrook Road and South Fraser Way and was walking to Cedar Park when the attack took place.
The victim was unable to get back up and lay there for some 15 minutes before a Punjabi-speaking man found him and asked him what had happened.
The senior’s grandson told the media that police have some surveillance footage from a nearby bank that could help in identifying the attacker.
The grandson said that his grandfather might no longer be able to go around on his own as the doctors say that it will take many months to recover and would need a cane to walk. He may have chronic hip pain from now on.
The grandson wanted others to know about the attack so that they could be alert.
Abbotsford Police Constable Jody Thomas told the VOICE on Sunday: “This file is still under investigation and we have received no evidence at this stage of the investigation that would classify this as a hate crime. The elderly male is currently receiving medical treatment and police have been unable to determine details with him. We will update media as soon as we know details of this incident.”