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School attack triggers outrage and paranoia
“It has become more of a political issue than a community issue…everybody is quite upset" - Guru Nanak Elementary School Principal, Devinder Singh Maan
By Lucy-Claire Saunders
Mata Press Service
An official of the Khalsa Diwan Society, which runs the Ross Street Sikh Temple in Vancouver, has been suspended pending an investigation into an assault on a school teacher
The assault is alleged to have taken place last Thursday around 5 p.m at the Guru Nanak Elementary School on South East Marine Drive, a short distance away from the temple.
A Khalsa Diwan Society spokesperson told the South Asian Post that the temple official has been indefinitely suspended.
"We have told him not to undertake any duties until this matter has cleared," the spokesman said.
Contacted at his home, the temple official denied having anything to do with the assault.
"You will have to speak with my lawyer," he said, but would not provide the name of his legal representative before abruptly terminating the call.
Guru Nanak Elementary School principal Devinder Singh Maan says the female teacher in her 40s, whom he declined to identify, managed to escape after she “yelled for help and threatened to call the police”.
The alleged assailant, who is in his mid-60s and did not appear intoxicated, was apparently delivering school mail, which sometimes gets accidentally directed to main temple.
"The man has come a few times to deliver mail but it seemed unlikely that he would ever do such a thing," said Maan. "It's really devastating as this teacher is very dedicated."
"Luckily she managed to escape from him."
Const. Jana McGuinness |
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has not laid charges and will not continue with the investigation until further evidence or information is brought forward.
"I know there's a lot of talk in the community," VPD Const. Jana McGuinness told the South Asian Post. "We got a complaint, we investigated it but nothing has come of it because we haven't got sufficient evidence to lay a charge."
Added McGuinness: "Suffice to say there are a lot of things you have to prove before you lay a charge (of assault)."
Maan says the investigative impasse is frustrating.
"It looks like the police are hesitating to lay charges," said Maan "And I have no idea why."
"My concern is how can you send the message to the community that these things are taken seriously?"
"My concern is how can you send the message to the community that these things are taken seriously?"
"I was told by police on Friday that he has committed similar kinds of assault in Richmond as well."
"The police are calling this a physical assault but the intention of course was sexual."
"He (the temple official) made a formal apology to the temple committee and they have suspended him but I don't have much hope from the temple because there is no sign that they will make him resign.
“It has become more of a political issue than a community issue…everybody is quite upset"
Mann said he is having a difficult time trying to explain the incident to his teachers, students and their parents.
Mann said he is having a difficult time trying to explain the incident to his teachers, students and their parents.
"For us it is very hard to even explain this to the children who ask us what's happened… What should I tell them?”
“There is a sense of paranoia among the parents that police have not done anything."
Mann said the school is helping the teacher cope with her shock and anger.
Mann said the school is helping the teacher cope with her shock and anger.
"We have given her all kinds of support, whether it's extended leave or time off,”
“I had a meeting with the teachers on Friday and we are all with her no matter what she wants to do."
The teacher has been working at the elementary school for just under a year.
Maan says it's a shame that this teacher was targeted as she has shown an exceptional amount of dedication towards learning about the Sikh community.
The Guru Nanak Elementary School, which is run by the Guru Nanak International Educational Welfare Society, has only been open for two years and has about 90 children enrolled.
"We are flourishing because the school is doing excellent. In every aspect, we are doing really well but this kind of incident is the drawback for us," said Maan.
Every parent must volunteer at least three hours a month, which means somebody, is almost always at the school, said Maan,
"It's too bad that this happened after everyone had left."
Maan added that the school was now looking to implement new safety measures.
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