Three folks have been arrested and a police officer was suspended following a chaotic and violent scene that erupted Sunday as Indian consular officers visited a Hindu temple in Brampton.
Movies circulating on social media seem to indicate 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 appear to indicate fist fights and folks placing one another with poles in what seems to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
The group Sikhs for Justice mentioned Khalistan supporters had been protesting the presence of Indian consulate officers endeavor an introduced go to to supply administrative companies corresponding to serving to seniors entry pensions.
A pink line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists at this time.
The assault by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees contained in the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton exhibits how deep and brazen has Khalistani violent extremism has turn into in Canada.
I start to really feel… pic.twitter.com/vPDdk9oble
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) November 3, 2024
In a launch, India’s excessive fee mentioned plans for additional visits to temples could be contingent on safety preparations from native authorities to guard the protection of officers, organizers and attendees.
“It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organized by our Consulates,” the embassy mentioned in an announcement posted to social media.
Peel Regional Police (PRP) have arrested the next three males in reference to the violent clashes:
43-year-old Dilpreet Singh Bouns of Mississauga was charged with inflicting a disturbance and assaulting a police officer.
23-year-old Vikas of from Brampton faces charges for assault with a weapon.
31-year-old Amritpal Singh of Mississauga was charged with mischeif over $5,000.
All three males will seem on the Ontario Court docket of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
Police mentioned a fourth particular person was arrested on an impressive unrelated warrant and subsequently launched.
Officers inform CityNews that an off-duty police officer was among the many demonstrators who confirmed up on the temple. He has been suspended with pay and an investigation is underway.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre and NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh all wrote Sunday on the platform X that they condemn the violence that occurred on the temple.
“Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely,” Trudeau wrote.
Poilievre “unequivocally” condemned “violence targeting worshippers” on the temple, including he would “end the chaos.” Singh additionally “unequivocally” condemned the violence.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote that the violence was “completely unacceptable and must be condemned.”
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown mentioned he was “disappointed to hear about acts of violence” exterior the temple.
“Those found guilty should be punished to the greatest extent of the law,” he wrote on X.
Sikhs for Justice alleged Hindu nationalists had provoked the combating and has claimed Indian officers use visits to non secular websites to seek out informants to focus on Sikh separatists. The Indian excessive fee in Ottawa didn’t instantly reply to the claims.
The group is asking that Indian consular officers be barred from endeavor work exterior of their diplomatic premises, arguing exterior website visits “directly endanger the safety and security of pro-Khalistan citizens in Canada.”
However Liberal MP Chandra Arya accused “Canadian Khalistani extremists” of attacking Hindus, saying they’re “getting a free pass in Canada.”
The clashes come as Hindus have a good time the Diwali vacation and amid mounting tensions between Canada and India.
Final month, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations they used their positions to gather info on Canadians within the pro-Khalistan independence motion after which handed the small print on to prison gangs who focused the people straight.
India has lengthy accused Canada of harbouring pro-Khalistan terrorists that New Delhi has requested Ottawa to extradite, although Canadian officers say these requests usually lack ample proof.
Tensions haven’t been confined to Ontario.
This previous Friday, a decide with British Columbia’s Supreme Court docket granted an order to ascertain a buffer zone round one of many province’s largest Sikh temples upfront of anticipated confrontations between protesters and Indian consular officers this weekend.
The request got here from leaders of a Sikh temple who mentioned they anticipated “intense protests” at two Indian consular occasions, generally often known as “consular camps.”
With information from The Canadian Press.
