Participated in pro-Khalistan protest; police officer suspended

OTTAWA: A Canadian police officer has been suspended for participating with the pro-Khalistani groups that attacked a Hindu temple in Canada. The police officer, named Harinder Sohi, was suspended for participating in the pro-Khalistan protest. The attack occurred at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, near Toronto.

Visuals related to the incident had circulated on social media yesterday. The footage showed Sohi holding a Khalistan flag and chanting anti-India slogans alongside other protesters. This led authorities to take action against the officer.

“We are aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel police officer involved in a demonstration. This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act," the authorities said.

Peel Regional Police had earlier announced that three people were arrested in connection with the attack on the Hindu temple. Police received information about the protest on Sunday afternoon itself. The officials said that police security was beefed up at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple to maintain security.

The Indian High Commission had organized a consular camp at the temple on Sunday in collaboration with the Hindu Sabha Mandir. During the event, a group of assailants carrying Khalistan flags and sticks stormed into the temple and brutally assaulted those, including women and children.