Apr 9 2008 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool EchoAN 11-YEAR-OLD Sikh boy had his turban ripped off and stamped upon by a group of racist thugs on a Liverpool bus.
Arjan Rhode was attacked by a gang of teenagers on Monday afternoon on the 82 service in Garston.
Moments after he got on the bus near Aigburth Road, he was tapped on the shoulder and his turban was suddenly pulled from his head.
A group of around nine yobs, aged around 18, passed the turban around while mocking the St Benedict's RC College pupil.
They shouted a tirade of racist abuse at the terrified boy as they stamped on the turban on the floor.
The turban is one of the most important religious symbols for a Sikh and damaging one is seen as a huge insult.
The bus was packed, around school leaving time at 3.10pm, but nobody intervened.
Arjan left the bus sobbing and recounted the assault to his mother who immediately telephoned the police.
Police have arrested a boy aged 17 on suspicion of a religiously aggravated public order offence.
He was being questioned by officers and the matter could be passed to the force's Sigma Unit, which deals with hate crime.
Police are set to examine CCTV tapes from the bus.
It is alleged that the mocking group were made up of current and former pupils from St Benedict's, formerly St John Almond, and the school has been contacted.
His mother, who wished to be identified only as Mrs Aurkaur, said her son had been left traumatised and was off school.
She said: "The bus was busy but nobody helped him. After it happened, Arjan sat there alone and frightened until he got off.
"This was a completely offensive act, the turban is the basis of Sikh religion."
Mrs Aurkaur said her son had suffered repeated racist attacks and insults at his school in Horrocks Avenue, Garston.
Headteacher John Finnigan said initial inquiries suggested none of the yobs was a pupil, but he would work with police to identify them.
He said: "Any racist incidents are totally against the ethos of our Catholic college."
"Such incidents are always condemned, thoroughly investigated and action taken.
"This matter occurred after school, but we have obviously made inquiries among our students and teachers."
"College staff and the police will be patrolling the area at the end of the school day."
