Violent clashes in Brampton: Indian-origin man arrested for inciting hate, warrants against two others

The violence erupted on Monday night outside the temple on The Gore Road, where a large protest was declared unlawful after weapons were seen among the crowd. Peel’s public order unit was deployed to control the situation, during which a man was reportedly heard calling for groups to storm Sikh temples through a loudspeaker.

This protest had taken place a day after pro-Khalistan elements tried to disrupt an Indian consular camp at Brampton’s Hindu Sabha temple.

Peel police have urged Gahlot and Arpit to seek legal counsel and surrender.

Indian consulate scraps facilitation camps

The Indian consulate in Toronto has decided to cancel certain upcoming facilitation camps, citing a lack of security assurances from Canadian authorities. The decision, shared via social media on Wednesday, came after Canadian security agencies reportedly informed organizers of their limited ability to ensure adequate protection at the events.

This announcement follows a letter from Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah to the acting Indian consul-general, Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh, expressing concerns about the rising tensions linked to consular camps held at religious sites in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Duraiappah’s letter, dated Tuesday, suggested that hosting these events at temples could be fuelling conflict within the community and recommended relocating the camps to reduce risks.

Tensions had escalated over the weekend, particularly on Sunday at Brampton’s Hindu Sabha temple, where a consular camp was underway, leading to violence and  the arrest of three individuals on charges including assault with a weapon, mischief, and assaulting a police officer.  A police officer was also suspended for being part of the violence by pro-Khalistan elements.

Later that day, pro-Indian government supporters gathered near a gurdwara in Mississauga. On Monday night, Peel Regional Police deployed riot control officers to manage a violent protest at another location to protest against the Sunday’s incident at the Hindu Sabha temple.