A protest by Khalistanis turned violent on Sunday near the Hindu Sabha temple in Canada’s Brampton as devotees were attacked. Following clashes between Khalistanis and devotees, police deployment has been beefed up at the Hindu Sabha Temple.

Sharing a video of the attack, the non-profit Hindu Canadian Foundation (HCF) wrote on X: “The Hindu Sabha Temple is under attack by Khalistani terrorists. Children, women and men are attacked. All this is happening under the support of Khalistani. political sympathizers”.

Top 10 points to know

1. A group of devotees at the Hindu Sabha Mandir was targeted by Khalistani supporters on Sunday.
2. According to videos widely shared on X, a group of men wielding sticks were seen attacking devotees outside the temple. A group of Khalistani supporters was holding a demonstration to commemorate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots before the attack on the devotees, according to media reports.
3. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the attack on Hindu devotees on Monday and thanked Peel Regional Police for their “quick response to protect the community and investigate this incident.”
4. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah called for restraint and said those who engage in such violent activities will be tracked down, arrested and charged.
5. A similar incident took place at Laksminarayan Mandir in Canada on Monday. Dr. Rao, a member of the Canada Hindu Forum, said he was present on the temple premises when the incident took place.
6. “The police are completely biased and they beat three of our guys when the three did not cause any violence, it was the Khalistanis who attacked them first. Sad state of affairs in Canada. It was sad to see innocent people beaten. brutally picked up by the police right in front of my eyes,” claimed Dr Rao.
7. Canadian commentator Daniel Bordman wrote on X that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) allegedly attacked Hindus at a Diwali temple in Surrey BC.
8. Officers began attacking devotees to protect Khalistanis who had come to harass temple visitors on Diwali, according to Bordman.
9. The series of incidents comes amid strained ties between New Delhi and Ottawa, as Canada has repeatedly rejected India’s calls for strict action against Khalistani extremists in Canada.
10. In October this year, India withdrew its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma, after he was named a “person of interest” in the investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India also expelled 6 Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, on 14 October.