Outrage is growing in the Vancouver South Asian community after a man who was photographed urinating on the Komagata Maru Memorial in downtown Vancouver last year was not charged by police.

Community activist Balwant Sanghera said the act of desecration was emotionally significant to the South Asian community.

"Komagata Maru is a very emotional issue for the community,” he said. “Incidentally this is the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru and it has a great sentimental, emotional and historical value for the community, South Asian community."

Police have found the man pictured and decided not to press criminal charges.

“We've looked at going the educational route with this young man, speaking to him about what he did and how inappropriate it was," said Vancouver Police Sgt. Randy Fincham.

Though the Hate Crimes Unit investigated the issue, it determined the man did not commit an offense.

"There appears to be other factors in the encounter between this individual and the original complainant,” Fincham said. “One of the essential elements as well is that we speak to the complainant and gather information, so there were other nuances in the investigation that ultimately led to the decision not lay a criminal charge."

Surrey resident Pargan Mattu, who snapped the photos, told CTV News he was showing the monument to a friend visiting from India on Dec. 2 when the man hurled a soccer ball at it.

Mattu said the man asked, "What are you guys trying to prove?" then began urinating on the monument. The shocked friends threatened to take his picture and call police, according to Mattu, and the man replied, "Do whatever you want."

Sanghera said the community “resent[s] that decision and we are very upset.” The community is looking to set up a meeting with Mayor Robertson and the Vancouver police chief to “bring about some change”.

“There has to be a deterrent so something like this never happens in the future,” Sanghera said “See this is what the Komagata Maru is -- so we don't repeat the history."

With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Penny Daflos.