New Delhi: A Canadian Police sergeant has been suspended for taking part with the pro-Khalistani elements that carried out an attack on Hindus at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton. Sergeant Harinder Sohi, a Peel Regional Police officer in Canada, was identified after he was spotted in videos in a protest at the temple on Sunday. The video captured him holding a Khalistan flag, as other protesters shouted anti-India slogans.
After the suspension, Harinder Sohi, an 18-year veteran of the police force, reportedly got death threats on social media, forcing the Peel Regional Police Association to offer “assistance and protection”.
Richard Chin, Peel Police spokesperson, reportedly said that the department was aware of the video circulating on social media which shows one of their off-duty officers taking part in a protest.
“This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act. 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,” Chin was quoted as saying by CBC News.
‘Officers will be deployed’
Peel Regional Police pointed out that they are taking steps to ensure “peaceful and lawful” planned protests by deploying officers. In a post on X, the Peel Regional Police said, “Officers will be deployed to ensure peace and lawfulness at planned demonstrations. Violence and other criminal acts has no place in our community.”
On Sunday, there was a huge uproar after Khalistani elements attacked the Hindu Sabha temple, in Brampton. Protesters clashed with people at the temple and also disrupted an event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate.
PM Modi hits out at ‘deliberate attack’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned Sunday’s “deliberate attack” outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir, near Toronto. Taking to X, he wrote, “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.”
