Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
National

Hindu temple in Surrey wants police suspended after protest unrest

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Nov, 2024 04:06 PM
  • Hindu temple in Surrey wants police suspended after protest unrest

A Hindu temple in Surrey is calling for the suspension of police officers involved in what it calls "unjustified violence against temple devotees" during unrest on Sunday in which three people were arrested.

The arrests outside the Sri Lakshmi Narayana Hindu Temple came as protesters calling for a separate Sikh nation called Khalistan had demonstrated outside the temple on Sunday during a visit by Indian consular officials.

The temple issued a statement on social media to condemn what it called an "attack on the Hindu temple by extremist elements," saying it underscores the "urgent need" for government officials to stop escalating violence.

Videos posted on social media show two men being restrained and held to the ground by officers outside the temple.

Surrey RCMP said officers were deployed to the temple around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday to maintain public safety during the consular visit, "when hundreds of protesters arrived."

They say violence broke out and, while no one was injured, three people were arrested.

Videos show both RCMP and Surrey Police Service officers in attendance.

Asked about the temple's allegations of unjustified police violence, the RCMP said Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, the officer in charge of Surrey RCMP, "continues to meet with local temple leaders to address their concerns."

There was similar unrest at a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont., on Sunday, that prompted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condemn what he called a "deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada," and "cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats."

Modi said Monday that he expects the Canadian government to "ensure justice" in the case.

The B.C. government did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke called the incident in Surrey "deeply disturbing" and said she had reached out to B.C. Premier David Eby.

"I am disappointed and upset by this incident. This is not who we are in Surrey," she said in the statement Monday. 

"I am speaking with all parties involved and I call for the Surrey community to remain calm."

Peel Regional Police also confirmed Monday that three people were arrested and charged in the Brampton protests, and that one officer had been suspended after a video circulating on social media allegedly showed his involvement in the Brampton demonstration.

The group Sikhs for Justice said that Khalistan supporters had been protesting the presence of Indian consulate officials.

The group said India uses these visits to find informants to report on Khalistan supporters. 

The group called on Ottawa to ban India's diplomatic missions from conducting external outreach events, citing public safety.

Six Indian diplomats were expelled from Canada last month over RCMP allegations that they used their positions to collect information on Canadians in the pro-Khalistan independence movement and then pass that on to criminal gangs who targeted the individuals directly.

Sikhs for Justice also held a similar protest in Vancouver on Saturday, but a B.C. Supreme Court judge granted an order to establish a buffer zone around the Ross Street Gurdwara during a consular visit. 

Court documents say the so-called consular camps give seniors of Indian descent a chance to meet with consular officials to complete administrative tasks, mostly related to their pensions, without having to attend the consulate in Vancouver.

The Khalsa Diwan Society, which runs the Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver, says in court documents that it expected "intense protests" at two consular camps in light of the RCMP allegations. The second camp is scheduled for Nov. 16.

MORE National ARTICLES

More rain in B.C. forecast, although 'nothing' compared to atmospheric river

More rain in B.C. forecast, although 'nothing' compared to atmospheric river
The District of North Vancouver is getting ready for another bout of rain after an atmospheric river weather system drenched B.C.'s south coast last weekend, triggering a mudslide and localized flooding that killed at least three people. The North Shore mountains could see another 75 millimetres of rain this weekend, and Lisa Muri, a councillor with the district, says staff are preparing by cleaning up culverts and placing sandbags throughout the community.

More rain in B.C. forecast, although 'nothing' compared to atmospheric river

Facts about the B.C. Greens who could be kingmakers in the legislature

Facts about the B.C. Greens who could be kingmakers in the legislature
Two Green Party legislators could hold the balance of power in British Columbia after Saturday's provincial election gave neither the NDP nor the B.C. Conservatives a majority of seats after the initial count. Both Green members are new to provincial politics, although leader Sonia Furstenau will continue to lead the party after she lost re-election when she switched ridings to Victoria-Beacon Hill. 

Facts about the B.C. Greens who could be kingmakers in the legislature

Coroner says there's been a sharp spike in females dying from illicit drugs in B.C.

Coroner says there's been a sharp spike in females dying from illicit drugs in B.C.
Illicit drug deaths are down slightly in British Columbia from the same period last year, but the coroners service says females are dying at a much higher rate.  The service says in a statement that 26 per cent of the 1,749 toxicity deaths so far this year were women or girls, and the rate of death among females is up 60 per cent from four years ago.

Coroner says there's been a sharp spike in females dying from illicit drugs in B.C.

Trudeau says he will remain prime minister despite caucus revolt

Trudeau says he will remain prime minister despite caucus revolt
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has no intention of stepping down as the leader of the Liberal party by next week. A letter signed by two dozen Liberal MPs asking Trudeau to step down was presented to the prime minister Wednesday at a tense caucus meeting in Ottawa.

Trudeau says he will remain prime minister despite caucus revolt

NDP plan motion to push back against anti-abortion 'creep' from Conservatives

NDP plan motion to push back against anti-abortion 'creep' from Conservatives
Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will use its next opposition day to force the House of Commons to debate and vote on a motion that calls for urgent action to improve abortion access. Speaking in Montreal, Singh also called out the governing Liberals, saying they haven't done enough to improve abortion access in Canada. 

NDP plan motion to push back against anti-abortion 'creep' from Conservatives

5 million adults without primary care, surgeries returning to normal: CIHI report

5 million adults without primary care, surgeries returning to normal: CIHI report
Seniors 65 years and older are more likely to have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner than younger adults between 18 and 34, and access to primary care is highest in Ontario and lowest in Nunavut, the CIHI report released Thursday says.  

5 million adults without primary care, surgeries returning to normal: CIHI report