BRAMPTON, Ont. — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is condemning violence that erupted Sunday when Indian consular officers visited a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont., as police introduced three individuals have been charged within the conflict.
BRAMPTON, Ont. — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is condemning violence that erupted Sunday when Indian consular officers visited a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont., as police introduced three individuals have been charged within the conflict.
Social-media posts over the weekend appeared to point out demonstrators holding banners in help of a separate Sikh nation known as Khalistan clashing with others, together with some holding India’s nationwide flag.
The movies appeared to point out fist fights and other people hanging one another with poles on what seemed to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
On Monday, Modi stated he expects the Canadian authorities to “guarantee justice” within the case.
“I strongly condemn the deliberate assault on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly makes an attempt to intimidate our diplomats,” Modi wrote on the social media platform X.
“Such acts of violence won’t ever weaken India’s resolve.”
Peel Regional Police stated Monday that three individuals have been arrested and charged within the protests.
A 43-year-old man from Mississauga, Ont., was charged with inflicting disturbance and assaulting a police officer, and a 23-year-old man from Brampton was charged with assault with a weapon. A 31-year-old man from Mississauga was charged with mischief over $5,000.
Police stated the group of protesters moved to 2 separate places in Mississauga, and an officer sustained minor accidents throughout the arrest of an individual throughout these demonstrations. They stated no different accidents have been reported.
Peel Regional Police additionally confirmed that certainly one of their officers has been suspended after video circulating on social media allegedly confirmed the officer’s involvement within the Brampton demonstration.
“We’re investigating the circumstances in totality depicted within the video, and are unable to supply additional data till such time that the investigation is full,” police stated in an announcement.
The group Sikhs for Justice stated that Khalistan supporters had been protesting Indian consulate officers who made an introduced a go to to the temple to supply administrative companies resembling serving to seniors entry pensions.
The group alleged that India makes use of these visits to seek out informants to report on Khalistan supporters. The group known as on Ottawa to ban India’s diplomatic missions from conducting exterior outreach occasions, citing public security.
On Monday, India’s exterior affairs ministry condemned “the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists” on the temple, and stated it will proceed its consular outreach in Canada.
“The outreach of our consular officers to supply service to Indians and Canadian residents alike won’t be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence,” learn an announcement from ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal, who known as on Canada to prosecute “these indulging in violence” and defend all locations of worship.
Three individuals have been additionally arrested on Sunday at a protest in Surrey, B.C., the place movies posted on social media confirmed individuals being carried away by police outdoors the Sri Lakshmi Narayana Hindu Temple.
Surrey police stated extra data can be launched later Monday.
India has lengthy accused Canada of harbouring pro-Khalistan terrorists that New Delhi has requested Ottawa to extradite, although Canadian officers say these requests typically lack ample proof.
Final 12 months, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered a diplomatic rift when he introduced that Canadian officers suspected Indian authorities brokers had a job within the assassination of a Sikh temple chief close to Vancouver in June 2023.
These tensions boiled over final month when Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations they used their positions to gather data on Canadians within the pro-Khalistan independence motion, after which handed the small print on to felony gangs who focused the people instantly.
India has stated that Canada supplied no proof to again up these allegations.
Sunday’s violence in Brampton drew condemnation from India’s excessive fee, Trudeau and the leaders of different main federal events.
Following the conflict, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown stated on social media that “either side have to de-escalate.”
He stated he plans to deliver a movement to metropolis council to take a look at prohibiting protests at locations of worship.
“The professional-India and pro-Khalistan sides who suppose it’s acceptable to protest at a spot of worship are utterly fallacious,” he wrote. “This should cease.”
Graham McGregor, Ontario’s performing minister of citizenship and multiculturalism, stated experiences of what happened on the temple have been “disturbing.”
“No one likes to see that sort of violence or these sort of intimidations occurring outdoors of place of worship,” McGregor stated.
— With information from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa and Allison Jones in Toronto.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Nov. 4, 2024.
Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press
