Weekend violence at a Hindu temple in Brampton spurred international tension and a second day of protests on聽Monday as political rhetoric escalated. A police officer was suspended for allegedly participating in a pro-Khalistani protest on Sunday.
On Monday evening, a crowd estimated to be in the hundreds gathered for a counterdemonstration at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple before heading south. When they聽reached the intersection of The Gore Road and Ebenezer聽roads,聽a聽handful of聽participants surrounded聽a聽southbound truck聽and聽could聽be seen pounding on the vehicle, some with what appeared to be wooden sticks.
Peel police then rushed in, throwing at least one participant to the ground; officers then formed a line and moved the crowd northbound up The Gore Road, back toward the temple. Later at least one protester聽was sprayed by an apparent irritant, such as pepper or bear spray, by a passerby.
Peel police rushed a handful of participants of a large protest at a Brampton Hindu temple on Monday night after they charged at a vehicle on the roadway. (Abby O'Brien / 海角社区官网Star / Nov. 4, 2024)
The previous incident Sunday evening, captured on video, unfolded outside the Hindu temple, on The Gore Road near Cottrelle Boulevard. According to Vasudev Joshi, one of the temple鈥檚 pandits (priests), Sunday’s protest was held to address the presence of Indian consular officials, who were invited by the temple in an effort to help senior members of the community apply for pensions.
Peel police Sgt. Harinder Sohi has been suspended after a protest at a Brampton temple on Nov. 3.聽
Via X, formerly known as Twitter鈥淭hat was happening in the basement,鈥 Joshi said. 鈥淎t the same time, a small group of Khalistani (supporters) came outside and raised their flags and slogans. After that, it got violent. Some people were trying to get in and they started beating and fighting.”
A video shared to social media shows protesters approaching the property as tempers erupt and the two groups clash. In the footage, some participants can be seen brandishing flagpoles as weapons.
After Monday’s crowd returned to the temple, they emerged, some with shovels and sticks, after counterprotesters arrived. Shortly before 10 p.m. Monday, Peel police tweeted that “This is now an unlawful assembly. The Public Order Unit is advising the crowds to disperse. All Parties must leave the area now or face arrest.”
A red line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists today.
鈥 Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada)
The attack by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees inside the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton shows how deep and brazen has Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada.
I begin to feel鈥
Sikhs for Justice, an international advocacy group, said pro-Khalistan supporters held the protest over concerns that Indian officials have attended similar events in the past to find informants and target Sikh separatists. They have asked that consular officials be barred from undertaking work outside of their diplomatic premises, arguing external site visits 鈥渄irectly endanger the safety and security of pro-Khalistan citizens in Canada.鈥
The Indian high commission in Ottawa did not immediately respond to these claims. Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi swiftly rebuked the Canadian government, calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government Monday to 鈥渆nsure justice and uphold the rule of law.鈥
Modi said he strongly condemned the 鈥渄eliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada.”
鈥淓qually appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats,鈥 he said. 鈥淪uch acts of violence will never weaken India鈥檚 resolve.”
A man laid on the ground after being hit with a chemical irritant from a passing car at Monday’s rally that began outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in Brampton.
Nick Lachance/海角社区官网StarLiberal MP Chandra Arya echoed those concerns on social media, blaming the pro-Khalistan protesters for the violence that he said 鈥渟hows how deep and brazen Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada.鈥
He also claimed there is a 鈥渟mall grain of truth鈥 to allegations that Sikh separatists have 鈥渆ffectively infiltrated鈥 Canadian politics and law enforcement agencies.
have been charged in connection with the incident, Peel police said on Monday, one of whom is alleged to have assaulted an officer.聽Peel police have not identified the officer who was suspended but聽several Indian media outlets and a source within the service, who wishes to remain anonymous for lacking authorization to speak publicly, along with, have identified him as聽Sgt. Harinder Sohi. Sohi could not be reached for comment by the Star.
聽“We are aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel Police officer involved in a demonstration. This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act. We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until such time that this investigation is complete,” the service said聽in a statement.
聽In their release, police said two other protests took place in separate locations in Mississauga after participants were dispersed from the Brampton temple on Sunday 鈥 one, in the area of Goreway and Etude Drives, and a second, at a place of worship, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha聽Malton Gurdwara,聽near Airport and Drew Roads in Mississauga.聽
“Although these demonstrations occurred at three different locations, they appear to be related to one another,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Joshi said members of the temple are still feeling anxious.
Vasudev Joshi, a pandit at Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in Brampton.聽
Nick Lachance/海角社区官网Star鈥淓veryone is nervous in case something happens,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hese people are protesting against the Indian government, so they can go to the Indian consulate and protest there, not here in religious places.鈥
Despite the violence, the pandit said he remains supportive of people’s right to protest.
鈥淭hey have a right to do that 鈥 protest is OK, not violence,” he said.
Tensions between India and Canada have been rising ever since accusations emerged that the Indian government was involved in the killing of Sikh activist聽Hardip Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, outside a temple in June. The rhetoric between the countries has been heated as India denies involvement.
In light of Sunday鈥檚 events, politicians across Canada have spoken out on the need to protect religious freedoms.
When reached for comment, Brampton mayor Patrick Brown said he was disappointed in the decision to protest outside the temple, and stressed the need to protect places of worship.
鈥淚 want to see unity, harmony in the community,鈥 the mayor said.
Harinder Sohi in a Brampton Guardian frame grab of a Peel police YouTube video.聽
Brampton Guardian via YouTubeTo protect individuals’ religious freedom, Brown said he plans to put forth a motion to prohibit protests being held at places of worship in the city.
鈥淚 understand there’s a constitutional right to protest in Canada, but there’s a right and wrong venue,鈥 he said. 鈥淩eligious freedom is also a constitutionally protected right and those that are going to pray, whether it’s in a mosque or a church or synagogue, should feel that is a safe space.鈥
Brown did not comment on the alleged involvement of the Peel police officer, stating that police have 鈥渢heir own internal mechanisms鈥 to investigate such allegations.
Trudeau also condemned the violence in a statement released Sunday.聽
“The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable,” the statement, shared to X, reads. “Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely.鈥
Premier Doug聽聽that 鈥渢he violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton this afternoon is completely unacceptable and must be condemned. No one should feel unsafe in their place of worship.鈥
With files from Mark Ramzy
