Ottawa:
A Canadian police officer was suspended Monday after a video showing him participating in a pro-Khalistan protest outside a Hindu temple in Brampton went viral on social media, media reports said, citing authorities.
The suspended Peel Regional Police officer, identified as Harinder Sohi, was caught on camera holding a Khalistan flag as others in the protest chanted anti-India slogans, CBC News reported.
Sohi was a sergeant in Peel Regional Police.
Media relations officer Richard Chin emailed CBC News to say police are “aware of a video circulating on social media showing 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,” he said.
“We are investigating the circumstances depicted in the video in their entirety and cannot provide any further information until this investigation is complete.”
Peel Regional Police earlier said three people had been charged after violence broke out on Sunday when Indian consular officials visited the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show protesters holding banners in support of Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh homeland in northern India, and clashing with other individuals, including some holding India's national flag.
The videos appear to show fistfights and people hitting each other with poles in what appears to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
Peel police said the event was eventually moved to two other locations in neighboring Mississauga, where further demonstrations also took place.
On Sunday afternoon, Peel police said they were aware of the protest and had increased their presence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple to maintain law and order and security.
“We respect the right to protest peacefully and safely, but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts,” Chief Nishan Duraiappah said after the videos circulated.
“Those who do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested and charged.”
The violence drew condemnations from Canadian political leaders at all levels of government and also prompted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a rare comment at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took strong note of the “deliberate attack” and demanded accountability from the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government and expected it to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said: “I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally disgusting are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of External Affairs (MEA) said he remains “deeply concerned” about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada, adding that he expects those indulging in violence to be prosecuted.
“We condemn the acts of violence committed yesterday by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario. We call on the Government of Canada to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Our staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)