Peel Regional Police are investigating a demonstration at a Hindu temple in Brampton that allegedly turned violent on Sunday afternoon.
Police said there was the protest in the northeast end of the city before violence erupted, according to reports and video on social media.
A video posted on social media shows an altercation at the Hindu Sabha Mandir, where people appear to be holding banners in support of a separate Sikh region called Khalistan while clashing with others, some of whom are holding India’s national flag. The video also appears to show fistfights and people striking each other with poles.
“While we respect the individual rights to protest as per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, our duty and responsibility remain to maintain public order and ensure the safety of everyone,” Peel police said in a statement on social media.
“As such, we are asking for the co-operation of the public to engage and facilitate in a peaceful and lawful protest.”
Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah took to social media, saying violence will not be tolerated.
“We respect the right to protest in a peaceful and safe manner but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts,” he wrote, “those that do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested and charged.”
He also said Peel police would have a “large” presence in the area, but no arrests had been announced.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown wrote on social media that he was upset to hear about the events.
“Religious freedom is a foundational value in Canada. Everyone should feel safe in their place of worship. I strongly condemn any acts of violence outside of a place of worship,” Brown said.
He said he is confident the police “will do everything in their authority to keep the peace and hold those accountable who commit acts of violence.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the reports of violence at the protest “shameful.
“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. Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident,” Trudeau wrote on social media.
Premier Doug Ford praised police for their “quick response,” adding that the incident is “completely unacceptable and must be condemned.
“No one should feel unsafe at their place of worship,” he wrote on X.
Sikhs for Justice alleged Hindu nationalists had provoked the fighting and has claimed Indian officials use visits to religious sites to find informants to target Sikh separatists. The Indian high commission in Ottawa did not immediately respond to the claims.
The group 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.”
But Liberal MP Chandra Arya accused “Canadian Khalistani extremists” of attacking Hindus, saying they are “getting a free pass in Canada.”
The clashes come as Hindus celebrate the Diwali holiday and amid mounting tensions between Canada and India.
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.
Tensions have not been confined to Ontario.
On Friday, a judge with B.C.’s Supreme Court granted an order to establish a buffer zone around one of the province’s largest Sikh temples in advance of expected confrontations between protesters and Indian consular officials this weekend.
The request came from leaders of a Sikh temple who said they expected “intense protests” at two Indian consular events, commonly known as “consular camps.”
— With files from The Canadian Press
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
A video posted on social media shows an altercation at the Hindu Sabha Mandir, where people appear to be holding banners in support of a separate Sikh region called Khalistan while clashing with others, some of whom are holding India’s national flag. The video also appears to show fistfights and people striking each other with poles.
“While we respect the individual rights to protest as per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, our duty and responsibility remain to maintain public order and ensure the safety of everyone,” Peel police said in a statement on social media.
“As such, we are asking for the co-operation of the public to engage and facilitate in a peaceful and lawful protest.”
Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah took to social media, saying violence will not be tolerated.
“We respect the right to protest in a peaceful and safe manner but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts,” he wrote, “those that do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested and charged.”
He also said Peel police would have a “large” presence in the area, but no arrests had been announced.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown wrote on social media that he was upset to hear about the events.
“Religious freedom is a foundational value in Canada. Everyone should feel safe in their place of worship. I strongly condemn any acts of violence outside of a place of worship,” Brown said.
He said he is confident the police “will do everything in their authority to keep the peace and hold those accountable who commit acts of violence.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the reports of violence at the protest “shameful.
“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. Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident,” Trudeau wrote on social media.
Premier Doug Ford praised police for their “quick response,” adding that the incident is “completely unacceptable and must be condemned.
“No one should feel unsafe at their place of worship,” he wrote on X.
Sikhs for Justice alleged Hindu nationalists had provoked the fighting and has claimed Indian officials use visits to religious sites to find informants to target Sikh separatists. The Indian high commission in Ottawa did not immediately respond to the claims.
The group 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.”
But Liberal MP Chandra Arya accused “Canadian Khalistani extremists” of attacking Hindus, saying they are “getting a free pass in Canada.”
The clashes come as Hindus celebrate the Diwali holiday and amid mounting tensions between Canada and India.
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.
Tensions have not been confined to Ontario.
On Friday, a judge with B.C.’s Supreme Court granted an order to establish a buffer zone around one of the province’s largest Sikh temples in advance of expected confrontations between protesters and Indian consular officials this weekend.
The request came from leaders of a Sikh temple who said they expected “intense protests” at two Indian consular events, commonly known as “consular camps.”
— With files from The Canadian Press
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah took to social media, saying violence will not be tolerated.
“We respect the right to protest in a peaceful and safe manner but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts,” he wrote, “those that do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested and charged.”
He also said Peel police would have a “large” presence in the area, but no arrests had been announced.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown wrote on social media that he was upset to hear about the events.
“Religious freedom is a foundational value in Canada. Everyone should feel safe in their place of worship. I strongly condemn any acts of violence outside of a place of worship,” Brown said.
He said he is confident the police “will do everything in their authority to keep the peace and hold those accountable who commit acts of violence.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the reports of violence at the protest “shameful.
“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. Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident,” Trudeau wrote on social media.
Premier Doug Ford praised police for their “quick response,” adding that the incident is “completely unacceptable and must be condemned.
“No one should feel unsafe at their place of worship,” he wrote on X.
Sikhs for Justice alleged Hindu nationalists had provoked the fighting and has claimed Indian officials use visits to religious sites to find informants to target Sikh separatists. The Indian high commission in Ottawa did not immediately respond to the claims.
The group 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.”
But Liberal MP Chandra Arya accused “Canadian Khalistani extremists” of attacking Hindus, saying they are “getting a free pass in Canada.”
The clashes come as Hindus celebrate the Diwali holiday and amid mounting tensions between Canada and India.
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.
Tensions have not been confined to Ontario.
On Friday, a judge with B.C.’s Supreme Court granted an order to establish a buffer zone around one of the province’s largest Sikh temples in advance of expected confrontations between protesters and Indian consular officials this weekend.
The request came from leaders of a Sikh temple who said they expected “intense protests” at two Indian consular events, commonly known as “consular camps.”
— With files from The Canadian Press
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