The Canadian police officer who participated in the Khalistani protest outside the Hindu temple in Brampton has been suspended. CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) stated this in their report quoting officials from the Peel Regional Police. The suspended police officer has been identified as Harinder Sohi. He was caught on camera holding the Khalistan flag. Sohi is posted as a sergeant with Peel Regional Police.
Peel Regional Police said they have been made aware of a viral video on the Internet, in which an off-duty police officer is seen actively participating in the demonstration in front of the Hindu Sabha temple. Peel police media relations officer Richard Chin told CBC: “This police officer has been suspended after being found guilty of violating the Community Policing and Safety Act.” He also said the department is investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident and will share more information once the investigation is complete.
This development came amid the attack on the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton by Khalistanis on Sunday. Fierce protesters carrying Khalistani flags clashed with people from the Hindu community at the temple. A consular event organized by the temple administration and the Indian Consulate was also disrupted. In the viral video on social media, Khalistanis can be seen attacking Hindus with sticks attached to the flag outside the temple.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted harshly to this attack on the temple and Hindu devotees and demanded responsibility from the Canadian government led by Justin Trudeau. He hopes that the Government of Canada will ensure justice and maintain the rule of law. Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X: ‘I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. The cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats are equally egregious. These acts of violence can never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Minister of External Affairs (MEA) S Jaishankar, reacting to the incident, said that he is extremely concerned about the safety of Indian citizens in Canada. He expressed hope that those involved in this violence will be brought under the ambit of the law and prosecuted. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: ‘We condemn the violence carried out 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.
