On 3rd November, Khalistani extremists launched a brutal attack on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Canada. The incident unfolded during a protest by Hindu worshippers, who were opposing the anti-India slogans being shouted by Khalistani supporters outside the temple. The slogans marked the anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots in Punjab, which had erupted after the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As tensions escalated, local law enforcement, including the Peel Regional Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), arrived at the scene. Instead of taking decisive action against the Khalistanis, some members of the Peel Police reportedly turned on the Hindu locals, exacerbating the chaos.

Videos documenting the violent clashes quickly went viral across social media platforms, drawing widespread criticism. Daniel Bordman, a senior correspondent with the National Telegraph, highlighted these events online, alongside other journalists and outraged community members. In a series of posts, filmmaker Sangita Menon Iyer shared alarming footage on X, writing, “Unbelievable events at Hindu Sabha Temple, Brampton. Sharing as received. Mandir devotees are being targeted and harassed. This is deeply concerning & unacceptable.” The filmmaker stressed the urgent need for intervention from both the Peel Police and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Bordman provided an in-depth account of how the violent clash began at the Hindu Sabha Temple, supported by video evidence. He explained, “You can see that violence was instigated by the Khalistani in the black vest as he approached the Hindu devotees and gave them a push, and then the rest of the Khalistanis attack with flags on wood.” The footage clearly depicts the tense moment when a Khalistani man, dressed in a black vest, provoked the confrontation, sparking a violent assault as other Khalistani supporters joined in, wielding wooden flagpoles against the Hindu devotees.

In another shocking video posted by Bordman, the involvement of local police in the chaos raised serious concerns. A Peel Police officer was captured on camera advancing into the crowd, appearing to target Hindu devotees while simultaneously pushing them back. “The RCMP start attacking Hindu worshippers on their own temple grounds in Surrey, BC. Watch as an RCMP officer goes into the crowd to go after Hindu devotees after pushing them back to protect the Khalistanis who came to harass the temple goers on Diwali. Punching Hindus in the head and beating them with batons caught on video,” Bordman wrote. Although he initially stated the officers were from the RCMP, he later clarified that they were members of the Peel Police.

The online community quickly reacted to these disturbing events, with X user Bhim Singh Gill posting photographs of the police officers involved in the aggression. The officer who came under scrutiny for attacking Hindu devotees was identified through a TikTok video shared by Peel Police. His badge number, 4673, revealed his name as Aditya Pande.

Another distressing video captured police officers confronting a Hindu man who had thrown down a Khalistani flag. The aggressive response further exemplified what Bordman described as a stark double standard in policing. He emphasized, “Two-tier policing in Canada at its finest. You can burn the Canadian flag, you can stomp on an Israeli flag in front of a synagogue, you can rip up Indian flags while screaming threats at people. But if you step on a Khalistani flag, the cops will attack you.”

Another social media user, Hindutva Knight (@HPhobiaWatch), took to X to reveal the identity of another police officer allegedly involved in the chaos at the Hindu Sabha Temple. The user wrote, “Meet Harinder Shohi @LiveInThe905. Off-Duty Peel Police Sergeant part of Khalistan mob who attacked a Hindu Temple in Brampton.” The post quickly gained traction as people expressed their outrage and disappointment at seeing an off-duty police sergeant allegedly participating in a mob that attacked a place of worship.

The sequence of events has led many to believe that the attack was premeditated, with accusations flying that the Canadian government, perceived to be aligned with Khalistani interests, had deliberately used police force to target Hindu devotees. The notion that the attack was carried out in a pre-planned manner has fueled further fear and anger among Hindu communities in Canada and beyond.

The situation became even more distressing when another X user, Donald J. Trump Update (@TrumpUpdateHQ), shared a video showcasing Peel Police arresting a young Hindu boy. According to the post, the child’s supposed “crime” was merely opposing the attack on the Hindu Temple. “In Canada, A Hindu kid was beaten by Canadian Police for opposing the attack on a Hindu temple. Really Shameful!” the user wrote. The video of the arrest sent shockwaves across social media, with viewers expressing outrage over the blatant mistreatment and perceived injustice.

The Canadian Organization For Hindu Heritage Education has issued a strong condemnation of the attack on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha Temple. In their statement, they expressed deep disappointment with local law enforcement and politicians, highlighting their failure to protect the community. “We must blame and hold responsible the @PeelPolice and @patrickbrownont for the organized violent attacks on Hindus by #Khalistani thugs that occurred this afternoon at the Hindu Sabha Mandir,” the statement declared. The organization emphasized that the Peel Police and the local administration had disregarded a critical warning. “They disregarded the Oct. 30, 2024, urgent letter sent to them by the Hindu Federation requesting increased police protection for temples from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 due to Diwali festivities.”

Despite the well-known security concerns and the fact that a consular service was scheduled at the temple that day, proper measures were conspicuously absent. “We saw that proper police protection had not been arranged at the Hindu temple despite it being publicly known that a consular service was scheduled there today,” the statement continued. The organization contrasted this with the Vancouver Police Department’s proactive approach. “Compare this to the @VancouverPD response—creating a buffer zone around a gurudwara.” They held Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah accountable, pointing out the systemic issues within his force. “@ChiefNish has completely exposed the deep #Hinduphobia in his police force—this pattern of attacks on Hindu temples is happening on your watch.”

They also directed criticism at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accusing him of fostering an environment that emboldens such criminal behavior. “@JustinTrudeau also has no escape from blame for encouraging this criminal behavior and mindset,” the statement read, demanding accountability and legal action. “Violent attackers must be prosecuted, and a change in police attitude toward Hindus must take place.”

In response to the incident, the Khalistani terrorist organization Sikhs For Justice attempted to portray themselves as victims. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of SFJ and a known Khalistani extremist, issued a letter accusing Hindus of provoking the violence. Pannun claimed that the chanting of “Hindustan Zindabad” and “Modi Zindabad” by Hindu devotees instigated the Khalistani protesters who had gathered outside the temple. The letter has been criticized for attempting to shift blame and justify the violence, a tactic frequently employed to deflect responsibility from extremist actions.

Canadian Member of Parliament of Indian origin, Chandra Arya, expressed his alarm and deep concern over the recent attack on Hindu devotees at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton. Using strong language in his post on X, he addressed the severity of the situation and the rising influence of Khalistani extremists in Canada. “A red line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists today,” Arya wrote, highlighting the gravity of the assault. He elaborated on the audacity of the Khalistani attackers, emphasizing how dangerous and deeply rooted their violent extremism has become in Canadian society. “The attack by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees inside the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton shows how deep and brazen Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada.”

Arya also raised unsettling concerns about the infiltration of extremist sympathizers within Canadian institutions. “I begin to feel that there is a small grain of truth in the reports that, in addition to the Canadian political apparatus, Khalistanis have effectively infiltrated our law enforcement agencies,” he remarked, pointing to the allegations of compromised policing and the leniency shown towards Khalistani groups. The MP did not hold back in criticizing the use of “freedom of expression” as a shield for extremist behavior. “No wonder that under ‘freedom of expression,’ Khalistani extremists are getting a free pass in Canada,” he added, calling attention to the flawed reasoning that allows these groups to act without facing consequences.

In his post, Arya urged the Hindu-Canadian community to take action to protect their own interests. “As I have been saying for long, Hindu-Canadians, for the security and safety of our community, need to step up, assert their rights, and hold politicians accountable,” he stated, calling on the community to stand united and demand that authorities and lawmakers address the ongoing threats.

Arrests Made: Khalistanis Protest in Front of Hindu Temple in Surrey, BC. Now today, #SikhsForJustice organized a protest outside a Hindu place of worship, and tensions were high following an earlier clash at another protest in Brampton, ON. Police made arrests on the Hindu… pic.twitter.com/sKoIOb0P2t — Satyaagrah (@satyaagrahindia) November 4, 2024

Both PM Trudeau and Opposition Leader Poilievre Fail to Even Name the Khalistanis That Attacked a Hindu Temple

In contrast to Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya, who boldly condemned the Khalistani extremists behind the assault on the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, both Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre avoided directly addressing the perpetrators. Their failure to explicitly call out the Khalistani elements has sparked criticism, with many accusing them of prioritizing vote bank politics over the safety of Hindu-Canadians.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s response, while condemning the violence, did not name the groups responsible. “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely. Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident,” he wrote in a post. His statement, while acknowledging the incident, was perceived by some as lacking the necessary condemnation of the extremist group involved.

Pierre Poilievre, the Leader of the Opposition, also released a statement that fell short of naming the Khalistani aggressors. “Completely unacceptable to see violence targeting worshippers at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today. All Canadians should be free to practice their faith in peace. Conservatives condemn this violence unequivocally. I will unite our people and end the chaos,” Poilievre posted. While emphasizing unity and peace, his response similarly avoided holding the Khalistani elements directly accountable, which left many questioning his stance on extremism.

The omission is particularly significant given the backdrop of ongoing provocations by Khalistani leaders like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Just recently, Pannun had incited Sikh youth to target Hindus in Punjab during Diwali, issuing demands that Hindu temples and communities abstain from celebrating with firecrackers. Since these instigations couldn’t be acted upon in India, the frustrations of these extremists appear to have manifested in Canada, escalating tensions and violence. The reluctance of both Trudeau and Poilievre to explicitly condemn Khalistani extremism has only added to the growing anxiety within the Hindu-Canadian community.