A Canadian cop was suspended on Monday after he was seen participating with the pro-Khalistani groups that launched an attack on Hindus at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton.
The suspended cop, identified as Harinder Sohi, was caught on camera holding a Khalistan flag as others in the protest chanted anti-India slogans. He served as a Sergeant of the Peel Regional Police.
Peel Regional Police confirmed that they were aware of an online video that depicted an off-duty officer actively participating in the demonstration.
“This officer has since been suspended under the Community Safety and Policing Act," said Media Relations Officer Richard Chin in a statement to CBC.
He also said that the department is investigating this incident’s circumstances and would share further details after the probe is completed.
It comes amid the ongoing uproar over the attack on the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton by Khalistani elements on Sunday. The protesters carrying Khalistan flags reached the temple premises and clashed with the devotees, disrupting a consular event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate.
Videos of the incident, widely shared online – including by Canadian MPs – showed a group of men wielding sticks and attacking devotees outside the Hindu Sabha Temple, where an Indian consular camp was held.
Soon after the attack on the Hindu temple came to a halt, videos surfaced online showing law enforcement clashing with templegoers amid the chaos.
The Peel Regional Police in Canada said that they have arrested three individuals following a demonstration held by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) in protest against the “Khalistani intimidation" and “anti-Hindu" hatred after the recent attacks on Hindu temples in Canada.
In an official statement released on Monday, Peel Regional Police stated that the demonstration “subsequently" relocated to two different locations within the city of Mississauga and the charges would be investigated by their 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau along with the 12 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau. The individuals were arrested under criminal charges, the police added.
The three persons arrested were identified as Dilpreet Singh Bouns, a 43-year-old man from Mississauga, Vikas, a 23-year-old man from Brampton and Amritpal Singh, a 31-year-old man also from Mississauga.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly condemned the “deliberate attack" on a Hindu temple in Canada’s Brampton and termed the violence a “cowardly attempt" to intimidate Indian diplomats in the country, making his first statement against the ongoing violence against Indians by pro-Khalistani supporters.
Taking a firm stance for Indians across the world, PM Modi asked the Canadian government to address the attacks and ensure justice to “uphold the rule of law."
“I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law," said PM Modi in an X post.
Notably, PM Modi’s strong remark against Canada came at a time when Ottawa made a series of baseless allegations against New Delhi, accusing the Indian government of orchestrating violence in the country.
On Saturday, Ottawa named New Delhi as a cyber threat adversary, suggesting that state-sponsored actors could be spying against it. India, on multiple occasions, has rejected Canada’s allegations and asked Trudeau to submit any credible information to back his claims.
Source: India Today