A man in Halifax recounted an incident of racial discrimination on Saturday when another individual deliberately hit his car with bagpipes and hurled racist insults at him.
Shalu Shajan, who immigrated from India, recounted parking his car on Lower Water Street in downtown Halifax when a man carrying bagpipes approached and struck his side mirror with the instrument. Shajan confronted the man, who then proceeded to hit the trunk of his car.
The situation escalated as the man started using racist language towards Shajan, telling him to “go back to your country.” Eyewitness Raven Fox confirmed the verbal altercation and mentioned the racial bias evident in the man’s remarks.
The man carrying bagpipes seemed to purposefully target Shajan’s car, leaving Fox disheartened by the incident in a supposedly kind and welcoming place like Halifax, especially towards a person of color.
Feeling threatened, Shajan worried the confrontation might turn physical and decided to call 911. The man walked away towards the waterfront as Shajan reported the incident to Halifax Regional Police’s hate crime unit and shared it on social media.
Reports showed a rise in hate crimes against South Asian Canadians, with 167 incidents in 2021 increasing to 483 in 2025. The Indo-Canadian Association of Nova Scotia expressed deep concern over such racist acts affecting not only the direct victims but also their families and communities.
While Shajan had faced racist comments before, this incident marked the first time he feared for his safety. By publicly sharing his experience, Shajan aimed to aid the police investigation and ensure accountability for the perpetrator.