Lagatar24 Desk
Ottawa: In a significant development amid rising India-Canada tensions, Canadian police officer Harinder Sohi was suspended after a video went viral showing his participation in a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton. Sohi, a Sergeant with the Peel Regional Police, was seen holding a Khalistan flag as protesters chanted anti-India slogans, reported CBC News.
Peel Regional Police spokesperson Richard Chin confirmed that Sohi was suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act. Chin added, “We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and cannot provide further details until this investigation is complete.”
Temple Protest Escalates, Three Arrested
The incident outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir escalated as pro-Khalistan demonstrators clashed with individuals holding Indian flags. The confrontations, captured on video, show people exchanging blows and using poles in the temple’s vicinity. Peel police arrested three individuals involved in the unrest, which later spread to Mississauga, where additional protests took place.
Following the incident, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah stated, “We respect the right to protest peacefully and safely but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts. Those engaging in such activities will be pursued, arrested, and charged.”
Global Condemnation and Political Response
The violence prompted widespread backlash, including condemnation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the temple attack a “deliberate and cowardly act.” Modi urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to ensure accountability, stating, “Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve.”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed “deep concern” for the safety of Indian nationals in Canada, with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal calling for protection of places of worship and justice for those responsible.
