A Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont., where violence erupted over the weekend was the site of another demonstration on Monday night that police broke up after they say weapons were spotted in the crowd.
Peel Regional Police said in social-media updates that the demonstration was declared an unlawful assembly shortly before 10 p.m., after officers saw weapons "within the demonstration."
I am proud to stand with Hindu Canadians in front of the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton. This is the temple that was attacked by the Khalistani violent mob this weekend. Places of worship must be safe. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right under the Charter of Rights and… pic.twitter.com/1gN7etOXdR
— Salman Sima (@SalmanSima) November 5, 2024
Police say the demonstration converged at an intersection outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple, shutting down traffic along Gore Road in both directions, before crowds dispersed by 1 a.m.
Pro-Hindu groups who shared details of Monday's demonstration suggested it came in response to Sikh separatists who protested a visit by Indian consular officials to the temple on Sunday.
#Khalistan supporters stormed a Hindu temple in #Brampton and attacked the devotees.
— Gurleen K Brar (@GurleenKBrar) November 5, 2024
The police did arrive but instead of controlling the attackers, they joined them and started targeting the devotees. This is just insane! pic.twitter.com/ZdIs18xxrN
Three people were arrested and a Peel police officer was suspended after Sunday's protest, with social-media videos seeming to show fist fights and people striking each other with poles on what appeared to be grounds of the temple.
In response to Monday's demonstration, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown shared a video of a man he accused of trying to "direct violence against those of Sikh faith."
This was his call for violence last night for those who have not seen the vile video. This man is not from Brampton, he is only visiting to incite violence and is not welcome in our City. This is clearly a hate crime. https://t.co/QsDcS1SIIo
— Patrick Brown (@patrickbrownont) November 5, 2024
The Canadian Press has not independently verified the contents of the video posts on social media.
Before Monday's demonstration, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned Sunday's violence as a deliberate attack on a Hindu temple and an attempt to intimidate diplomats.
Canada expelled six Indian diplomats last month for allegations that they used their positions to collect information on Canadians in the Sikh separatist movement, and then passed the details on to criminal gangs who targeted the individuals directly.
India, which has rejected those allegations, has long accused Canada of harbouring terrorists involved in a Sikh separatist movement calling for an independent country called Khalistan. Canadian officials have said related extradition requests from India often lack adequate proof.
