Canada Calling: Eye on domestic abuse in Punjabis, Brampton declares gender-based violence an epidemic; all eyes on Brijesh Mishra’s bail hearing
The recent tragic deaths of women in Brampton and Mississauga have compelled the city to take immediate action.
5 min read
Navjit Kaur Brar, Brampton councillor
In a decision made during Brampton’s Committee of Council meeting on June 21, the city has voted unanimously to declare gender-based violence and intimate partner violence as an epidemic. The motion, proposed by Brampton Councillors Navjit Kaur Brar and Rowena Santos, aligns Brampton with 24 other municipalities and regions in Ontario that have already taken this crucial step.
Brar emphasised that femicide often emerges from gender-based violence and abuse, underscoring the urgent need for a system that treats claims of abuse, harassment, and stalking with utmost seriousness. The recent tragic deaths of women in Brampton and Mississauga have compelled the city to take immediate action.
One distressing incident involved Davinder Kaur, whose life was tragically cut short on May 19 in Brampton’s Sparrow Park. She was reportedly stabbed multiple times by Nav Nishan Singh, identified as her estranged husband. Rebecca Pacheco, the Public Education and Community Collaboration coordinator for Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA), stressed the pressing nature of the issue, stating that femicide and gender-based violence are prevalent within Brampton and the wider community.
Pacheco revealed that two femicides have already occurred in Peel Region this year, with four tragic cases taking place last year. Among the reported incidents are the shooting death of Pawanpreet Kaur, a Brampton woman killed while working at a Mississauga Petro-Canada gas station in December, and the stabbing death of Chandanpreet Kaur at a busy Mississauga Canadian Tire.
Pacheco called for the formal recognition of intimate partner violence and gender-based violence as an epidemic to raise awareness and prompt immediate action. Sharon Mayne Devine, CEO of Catholic Family Services, Safe Centre of Peel, highlighted that more women are now seeking help and emphasised that victims should never blame themselves for the abuse they endure.
As awareness continues to grow and more women seek support, Santos acknowledged the need for increased funding. She emphasised that the lack of safe spaces contributes to the rise in violence, underscoring the critical importance of sufficient funding for initiatives addressing this issue. Santos also noted that with the formal declaration of an epidemic, requests for funding and support will carry greater weight, bringing hope for positive change and protection for women within the Punjabi community.
Mishra arrested, all eyes on legal proceedings now
Hope floats among Indian students in Canada following the arrest of Brijesh Mishra, the alleged mastermind behind the fake admission letter scam. Many of them are staring at deportation due to the scam. Now they hope the whole truth behind the deceitful scheme will be uncovered and the guilty will be brought to book.
Mishra, who formerly operated his agency in Jalandhar, is currently being held at the Surrey Pre-Trial Detention Centre in British Columbia. As his case progresses, his bail hearing has been set for Monday, June 26, offering an opportunity for further legal proceedings.
Facing serious allegations, Brijesh Mishra has been charged with five counts under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Sumit Sen, a Canadian immigration lawyer representing many affected students, expressed his intention to subpoena Mishra to court and subject him to cross-examination. Furthermore, Sen asserted that Mishra’s connections in Canada, whose identities are known, will also be summoned by court order.
Air India crash victim families call for displaying wreckage
Victims’ families of the Air India terrorist bombings are calling for the wreckage of the bombed aircraft to be put on display. As preparations for the 38th annual memorial meeting, which honors the 331 victims, including 82 children, are underway, former Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer shared the details. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in Vancouver. Hayer said that this observance serves as a reminder of the devastating bombing of Flight 182 from Vancouver in 1985, the most significant air disaster in Canadian history. The memorial will be held at the Air India Memorial in Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground.
During the memorial, the focus will be on not only remembering the victims of the tragic terrorist bombing but also paying tribute to their family members. Additionally, the event will honour the two baggage handlers in Narita, Japan, who lost their lives almost simultaneously when a second terrorist bomb intended for another Air India flight exploded prematurely.
India seeks extradition of two Vancouver residents behind tragic death of Gujarati family
Indian authorities have initiated the extradition process for two Canadians accused of facing charges related to the tragic deaths of a family in southern Manitoba. Chaitanya Mandlik, the deputy commissioner of police for Ahmedabad’s crime branch in Gujarat, confirmed that Vancouver residents Fenil Patel and Bitta Singh, also known as Bittu Paji, are sought to be extradited to India. Mandlik stated that interviews and gathering further information from the individuals are necessary.
The Canadian Justice Department spokesperson, Ian McLeod, mentioned that extradition requests are confidential communications between states. Therefore, the department cannot disclose the existence of a potential request until it becomes public through the courts. The devastating incident occurred on January 19, 2022, when Canadian authorities discovered the lifeless bodies of Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their two children, Vihangi (11 years old) and Dharmik (3 years old), just meters away from the U.S. border near Emerson, Manitoba.
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