Brampton, Canada — Canadian police announced Monday that three men have been arrested following a violent altercation outside a Hindu temple in Brampton, a suburb of Toronto. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, involves charges including assault with a weapon and assaulting a police officer.
The violent clashes reportedly broke out among attendees and Sikh activists at the Hindu Sabha Mandir. Police indicated that investigations into several acts of unlawfulness at the site are still ongoing. The dispute has captured widespread attention, exacerbated by deteriorating diplomatic relations between Canada and India following accusations of a politically motivated assassination.
Social media footage from the scene showed individuals brandishing flags affiliated with the Khalistani movement, a group advocating for a separate Sikh state in India. The exact spark for Sunday’s violence remains unclear amidst chaotic scenes of people using flagpoles as weapons and engaging in physical confrontations. Additional, isolated skirmishes were also reported.
Complicating matters, authorities are investigating an off-duty police officer seen participating in the demonstration. The officer involved has been suspended pending further inquiry.
In the wake of the violence, the group Sikhs for Justice claimed that their members were targeted while peacefully demonstrating against the presence of Indian diplomats at the temple. The group supports the Khalistan movement and emphasized that their protest was non-violent.
The incident has prompted responses from both Canadian and Indian officials. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the violence, labeling the actions witnessed as unacceptable. Further, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterized the disturbance as a “deliberate attack on a Hindu temple,” condemning what he described as cowardly attempts to intimidate Indian diplomats. His sentiments were echoed by India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who expressed his concern during a press conference in Australia.
Tensions have been particularly high since Canada accused the Indian government last year of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Khalistan activist. Following the accusation, both nations engaged in a series of diplomatic retaliations, including the expulsion of diplomats.
The backdrop of these developments includes broader allegations against India for purportedly orchestrating assassinations abroad, similar charges having been made by the United States in relation to a thwarted assassination attempt in New York City.
As investigations continue, this incident underscores a significant strain in New Delhi-Ottawa relations and highlights the possible implications of international diaspora politics on domestic affairs in nations such as Canada, home to a substantial Sikh population. The ongoing diplomatic and community-level responses will likely play a critical role in shaping the future interactions between the two nations, especially if more evidence emerges from the ongoing police investigations into the temple violence and related activities.