A Peel Regional Police officer was suspended after being caught on video participating in a pro-Khalistani protest outside a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario. The officer, identified as Harinder Sohi, was filmed holding a Khalistan flag while anti-India slogans were chanted.
The incident, which took place outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple, has sparked controversy and raised tensions between India and Canada. The suspension comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Indian nationals in Canada and escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The Incident: A Controversial Khalistani Protest Outside a Hindu Temple
On a Sunday afternoon in Brampton, Ontario, tensions flared as a group of demonstrators gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple, protesting in favor of Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh homeland in northern India.
The protest took a controversial turn when videos surfaced on social media showing an off-duty Peel Regional Police officer, Harinder Sohi, holding a Khalistan flag amidst the demonstrators. The protesters were seen chanting anti-India slogans and clashing with individuals carrying the Indian national flag.
The protest quickly escalated into violence, with fistfights breaking out and some individuals striking each other with poles. The scenes of violence, which unfolded on the grounds of the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple, were widely circulated on social media, prompting swift condemnation from political leaders and authorities alike.
Read : Canada’s Spy Chief Secretly Visited India Twice This Year to Probe Nijjar’s Assassination
The Peel Regional Police, who were present at the scene to maintain public order, had increased their presence at the temple in anticipation of potential unrest.
The demonstration and the subsequent violence were not confined to the temple in Brampton. According to Peel police, the protest eventually spread to two other locations in neighboring Mississauga, where further demonstrations and clashes took place.
Read : Hindus in Canada Protest Against Khalistani Attack on Temple in Brampton
The growing unrest highlighted the sensitive nature of the issue of Khalistan in Canada, where a significant portion of the Sikh diaspora resides. The demonstration and the involvement of an off-duty police officer in such a contentious protest raised serious questions about the impartiality of law enforcement in situations involving political and cultural tensions.
The Suspension of Sergeant Harinder Sohi and Ongoing Investigation
In the aftermath of the protest, Peel Regional Police confirmed the suspension of Sergeant Harinder Sohi, the officer who was seen participating in the demonstration.
Sohi, who was off-duty at the time, was filmed holding a Khalistan flag, a symbol associated with the movement for an independent Sikh homeland. His actions, coupled with the violent nature of the protest, prompted widespread criticism and led to his suspension under the Community Safety and Policing Act.
Peel Regional Police Media Relations Officer Richard Chin issued a statement acknowledging the video circulating on social media and confirming the suspension of the officer.
“This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act,” Chin stated, adding that the police force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the protest and Sohi’s involvement. “We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until this investigation is complete.”
The suspension of Sergeant Sohi has sparked a heated debate about the role of law enforcement officers in political demonstrations, particularly those involving contentious issues like Khalistan.
While off-duty officers have the right to participate in protests as private citizens, the fact that Sohi was actively holding a Khalistan flag and participating in a protest that turned violent raised concerns about impartiality and professionalism within the police force.
This incident has also brought into focus the broader issue of pro-Khalistan sentiment in Canada, which has long been a source of tension between India and the Canadian Sikh diaspora.
The involvement of a police officer in such a protest has amplified these tensions, with many calling for a thorough investigation into Sohi’s conduct and the broader implications of law enforcement officers participating in politically charged demonstrations.
Political and Diplomatic Fallout: Rising Tensions Between India and Canada
The protest and subsequent violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple have drawn sharp reactions from political leaders in both Canada and India. In Canada, leaders at all levels of government condemned the violence, emphasizing the need for peaceful and lawful demonstrations.
Chief Nishan Duraiappah of the Peel Regional Police issued a statement condemning the violence and assuring the public that those responsible would be held accountable. “We respect the right to protest peacefully and safely but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts,” Duraiappah said, adding, “Those that do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested, and charged.”
Meanwhile, the Indian government took a strong stance on the issue, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi issuing a rare public statement condemning the attack on the Hindu temple in Canada.
In a post on social media platform X, Modi expressed his outrage at the violence and called on the Canadian government to ensure the safety of Indian nationals and places of worship. “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,” Modi wrote.
India’s Minister of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a statement expressing concern over the violence and urging the Canadian government to take immediate action to protect Indian nationals and their places of worship.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated 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.”
The incident comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, with the issue of Khalistan being a particularly sensitive topic.
The Indian government has long expressed concerns about the activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada, accusing them of promoting separatism and violence. The protest outside the Hindu temple in Brampton, coupled with the involvement of a Canadian police officer, has only added fuel to the fire.
The violence and the subsequent diplomatic fallout underscore the deep divisions that the issue of Khalistan has created within the Sikh diaspora in Canada and the broader Indian community.
While pro-Khalistan groups continue to advocate for an independent Sikh homeland, many in the Indian community view these movements as a threat to India’s territorial integrity and stability.
The involvement of a police officer in such a protest has intensified these divisions, raising questions about the impartiality of law enforcement and the need for stricter guidelines regarding the participation of public servants in politically charged events.
The suspension of Peel Regional Police officer Harinder Sohi following his participation in a pro-Khalistan protest outside a Hindu temple in Brampton has sparked a major controversy in Canada.
The incident has raised important questions about the role of law enforcement officers in political protests and has further escalated tensions between India and Canada. As the investigation into Sohi’s conduct continues, the broader implications of the protest and the involvement of law enforcement in such demonstrations will likely be the subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏