A Peel Regional Police officer has been suspended after a video surfaced showing him taking part in a pro-Khalistan protest outside a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, on Sunday. The officer, identified as Sergeant Harinder Sohi, was filmed holding a Khalistan flag while demonstrators chanted anti-India slogans. The officer was off-duty and not in his police uniform at the time of the protest.
Peel Regional Police confirmed the suspension, stating that they were aware of the video circulating on social media and had launched an investigation into the incident. Media Relations Officer Richard Chin said the force is looking into the circumstances shown in the video and would not comment further until the investigation is complete.
The protest occurred during a visit by Indian consular officials to the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in Brampton. Tensions escalated when pro-Khalistan demonstrators clashed with others supporting India, leading to violent confrontations. Video footage from the scene showed individuals involved in fistfights and using poles to strike each other. The protest eventually spread to two other locations in nearby Mississauga.
Peel police had been aware of the protest and had increased their presence at the temple to maintain order and safety. In a statement, Chief Nishan Duraiappah reiterated the department’s commitment to peaceful protest but condemned the violence. “We respect the right to protest peacefully and safely but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts,” he said, adding that those responsible would be pursued, arrested, and charged.
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The incident has drawn strong reactions from both Canadian political leaders and international figures. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the violence, calling the attack on the Hindu temple a “deliberate” act and urging the Canadian government to hold those responsible accountable. “Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve,” he said in a statement on social media.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the safety of Indian nationals in Canada, calling on the Canadian government to ensure that places of worship are protected from violence.
