Three arrested after violence outside a Hindu temple in Brampton over the weekend

Three arrested after violence outside a Hindu temple in Brampton over the weekend

Several politicians such as Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh have given statements condemning the violence.

Nov. 4, 2024

Peel police were made aware of reports of violence at a demonstration outside a Brampton temple.Graeme Frisque Metroland Graeme

By Kristjan LautensStaff Reporter, and Jayden DillStaff Reporter

Three people have been arrested after a clash outside a Hindu temple in Brampton on Sunday.

One person was arrested during the protest, which led to an officer sustaining minor injuries.

The incident happened outside Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton.

A video posted to X by Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament representing Nepean, appears to show demonstrators with banners supporting the Khalistan movement, a separatist movement pushing for an independent Sikh homeland in northern India, engaging with others holding India’s national flag.

A red line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists today.
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… pic.twitter.com/vPDdk9oble
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) November 3, 2024

Police said protesters relocated to the Westwood Mall areas in Mississauga and then to Airport Road and Derry Road.

Sikhs for Justice, an international advocacy group, say pro-Khalistan Sikhs were protesting the presence of Indian consulate officials and alleged that Indian officials use events like these to find informants to target Sikh separatists.

The organization is asking that Indian consular officials be barred from undertaking work outside of their diplomatic premises, arguing external site visits “directly endanger the safety and security of pro-Khalistan citizens in Canada.”

The Indian high commission in Ottawa did not immediately respond to these claims.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh and Premier Doug Ford all condemned the violence.

https://f0495aacc02f2d2e1bed2ea713e8de1f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?upapi=true

Trudeau said in a post on X that “the acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely.”

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown also took to X Sunday afternoon to say he was “disappointed to hear about acts of violence outside” the temple. “Religious freedom is a foundational value in Canada. Everyone should feel safe in their place of worship,” said Brown. “I strongly condemn any acts of violence outside of a place of worship.”

Brown later in the evening told CP24 he hopes “those who are found responsible for violence will be held accountable to the full extent of the law, and they can be made as an example, that if you commit violence, if you’re going to engage in vulgar behaviour like this, that there are consequences.

“I know the police are investigating the incident,” said Brown. “They’re looking at the (social media) videos, they’re taking witness statements, but I hope that those responsible are held fully accountable, and I think that will be a chilling effect for those that want to copycat this incident.

“There are limits to the right to protest. It does not include violence, it does not include intimidation.”

https://f0495aacc02f2d2e1bed2ea713e8de1f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?upapi=true

Last month, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations they used their positions to collect information on Canadians in the pro-Khalistan independence movement and then passed the details on to criminal gangs who targeted the individuals directly.

India has long accused Canada of harbouring pro-Khalistan terrorists that New Delhi has asked Ottawa to extradite, though Canadian officials say those requests often lack adequate proof.

On Friday, a British Columbia Supreme Court judge granted an order establishing a buffer zone surrounding a large Sikh temple in the province expecting confrontations ahead of Indian consular officials visiting this weekend.

Leaders of the Sikh temple made the request predicting “intense protests” at two Indian consular events.

The incident comes on the 40th anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots where 2146 Sikh’s were killed in Delhi according to a 2005 report by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

https://f0495aacc02f2d2e1bed2ea713e8de1f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html?upapi=true

With files from The Canadian Press

Update – Nov. 4, 2024

This article was edited from a previous version to make clear that Khalistan is a proposed independent Sikh state that the Khalistan separatist movement supports.

Kristjan Lautens is a staff reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: klautens@thestar.ca

Jayden Dill is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: jdill@thestar.ca

Report an error

Journalistic Standards

About The Star