Tejeshwar Kalia, a 22-year-old student from India, is currently facing aggravated assault charges after a self-defense incident involving a bat-wielding assailant. The altercation occurred while Kalia was working as a clerk at a Circle K convenience store in Peterborough, Ontario, on January 5, 2024.
Kalia, a former player for India’s under-17 national soccer team and a health sciences student at Sir Sandford Fleming College, was forced to defend himself during a robbery attempt by using the assailant’s own weapon against him. This action has led to serious legal charges, despite his actions being in self-defense.
With Kalia under house arrest and unable to work or attend college in person, his friends have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support him. The fundraising effort, spearheaded by his friend Deepak Sharma, aims to cover Kalia’s living expenses and legal fees as he prepares to fight the charges in court. Sharma describes the situation as an unjust predicament for Kalia, who was simply defending himself during his night shift.
As of now, the campaign has raised a modest sum toward a goal of $25,000, which is deemed necessary to give Kalia a fair chance against what is perceived as a disproportionate response by the legal system.
For those looking to support Tejeshwar Kalia and learn more about his situation, contributions can be made through his GoFundMe page.