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Scenes of protesters holding Khalistani flags attacking Hindu devotees in Brampton last week sent shockwaves across the world.
Visuals showed a group of men wielding sticks and attacking devotees outside the Hindu temple in Canada. (Image: X)
Canada’s Peel Regional Police have made another arrest in the Khalistani attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton. The accused has been identified as Inderjeet Gosal, 35, of Brampton, who was charged with assault with a weapon.
Last week, a group of protestors holding banners in support of Khalistan disrupted a consular event attended by Indian officials at Brampton’s Hindu Mandir. The protestors allegedly thrashed people with sticks outside the temple. The incident was condemned, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.
Gosal, is the coordinator for Gurpatwant Pannun’s Sikhs for Justice in Canada.
He was released on conditions and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date, said the Peel Regional Police in a statement. A Strategic Investigative Team dedicated to investigating incidents of criminality during the unrest has been formed.
Earlier, the police said they 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 last week, 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.
Hindu Temple Attacks Meticulously Planned: Sources
After the attack on Hindu devotees in Brampton, the Ministry of External Affairs of India said that New Delhi remains “deeply concerned” about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada. The MEA further called on the Trudeau-led Canadian government to protect the places of worship from such attacks on its soil.
Hindus in Canada have witnessed crime grow at the hands of Khalistani extremists over the years. India has consistently argued that Canada has provided a safe haven to Khalistani extremists who have espoused radical and anti-India sentiments.
These attacks were planned meticulously and the directions possibly came from the top, top intelligence sources told CNN News-18. They said these attacks were supported by the state machinery, notably with the suspension of Peel police Officer Harinder Sohi, who was seen participating in a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Brampton Hindu Temple.
“Most alarming was warning messages by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun before Diwali when he even issued threats to Indian airlines,” sources added, saying lack of cooperation in investigation from UK, US and Canada was an issue.
Trudeau Admits Canada’s Khalistan Problem
Meanwhile, Trudeau recently admitted that there are supporters of Khalistan in Canada but they do not represent Sikh community as a whole. The Canadian PM’s acknowledgement about Khalistan supporters in the country vindicates India’s stand that Trudeau government is sheltering Khalistani separatists.
Trudeau’s remarks came while he was addressing the Indian Canadian diaspora in Ottawa Parliament Hill during Diwali celebrations last week. He went on to say that there are supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in Canada but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians as a whole.
