Indian Visitor Sentenced for School Gate Harassment
A 51-year-old Indian man's dream visit to Canada to meet his newborn grandchild has ended in deportation and a lifetime ban after he was convicted of criminally harassing two teenage girls outside their school. Jagjit Singh, who arrived in Canada in July on a six-month temporary visa, received his sentence in a Toronto court following disturbing incidents near a local high school.
The Disturbing Pattern of Behavior
According to court documents, Singh regularly visited the smoking area of a high school where he attempted to engage with young female students. The Toronto Sun reported that Singh, who did not speak English, tried to interact with the girls and asked for photographs. In one concerning incident, he managed to take a photo with two girls under the impression that he would leave afterward. However, he instead sat between them and posed for another photo before putting his arm around one of the girls.
The situation escalated when the girl stood up and pushed his arm away, clearly uncomfortable with the physical contact. The victims promptly reported the incidents to school authorities, leading to Singh's initial arrest on September 16.
Legal Proceedings and Judge's Remarks
Singh was initially charged with sexual interference and sexual assault but ultimately pleaded not guilty to sexual interference while admitting guilt to criminal harassment. Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski delivered a strong verdict, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense. "You had no business being at the property of that high school," Justice Leszczynski stated during sentencing. "This type of conduct will not be tolerated."
Despite being granted bail initially, Singh faced re-arrest the same day when a new complaint surfaced. His lawyer informed the court that his client found his time in jail both shocking and lasting, though this did not mitigate the sentence.
Impact on Victims and Immigration Consequences
One of the teenage victims expressed the emotional impact of Singh's actions in a victim impact statement. "Part of what makes this so difficult is that the offender was someone who had come to Canada as a newcomer," she stated. "This betrayal has affected the way I see people of his culture and men who are older than me."
The court ordered Singh's deportation despite him having a return ticket to India scheduled for December 30. The sentence includes a short jail term followed by immediate removal from Canada with a lifetime ban on re-entry.
Growing Trend of Indian Removals from Canada
This case occurs against the backdrop of increasing removals of Indian nationals from Canada. According to Hindustan Times reporting, the number of Indian nationals being 'forcibly' removed from Canada is on track to set a new record in 2024, continuing an upward trend observed since 2019.
Data from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) shows that as of July 28 this year, 1,891 Indian nationals had already been removed from Canada. This number approaches the total of 1,997 Indians removed throughout the entire previous year, which represented the second-highest nationality after 3,683 Mexicans removed during the same period.
The case highlights the serious consequences visitors face when violating Canadian laws, particularly those involving the safety and security of minors. Despite having legitimate reasons for visiting the country, such as meeting family members, foreign nationals must adhere to local laws and social norms to avoid severe immigration consequences.
