Canadian Cop Suspended After Viral Video Shows Him Attending Khalistani Protest Outside Hindu Temple

Canadian Cop Suspended After Viral Video Shows Him Attending Khalistani Protest Outside Hindu Temple

A Canadian police officer has been suspended after videos on social media showed him participating in a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, according to CBC News. Protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with people at the Hindu temple and disrupted a consular event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate on Sunday.

Several unverified videos circulated on social media about the protest. The videos appeared to show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "The Peel Police is aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel Police officer involved in a demonstration," said Media Relations Officer Richard Chin in an email to CBC News.

The officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act, he said. "We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until such time that this investigation is complete," he added.

Peel Police earlier said three people have been charged after violence erupted as Indian consular officials visited the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple Sunday.

India Condemned The Attack On Hindu Temple In Canada

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the vandalism of the Hindu temple was "deeply concerning". "What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning," news agency Reuters quoted him as saying in the Australian capital Canberra while on an official visit. Strongly condemning the "deliberate attack" PM Narendra Modi said such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve.

"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. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law," he wrote in a post on X.

The External Affairs Ministry on Monday said the Indian government "condemns acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists". It called on its Canadian counterpart to ensure all places of worship are adequately protected.