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

Justin Trudeau says his leadership is not in danger as Liberals brace for revolt

Justin Trudeau says his leadership is not in danger as Liberals brace for revolt
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his leadership of the Liberal party is not in danger, even as members of his caucus prepare to confront him Wednesday in the hopes of convincing him to step down. He brushed off those concerns as he headed into his regular Tuesday meeting with cabinet ministers.

Justin Trudeau says his leadership is not in danger as Liberals brace for revolt

John Rustad shares his B.C. Conservative origin story, in postelection message

John Rustad shares his B.C. Conservative origin story, in postelection message
John Rustad has taken to social media to describe his origin story as leader of British Columbia's Conservative Party, which he took from obscurity to the brink of power in Saturday's provincial election. The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind Premier David Eby's New Democrats.

John Rustad shares his B.C. Conservative origin story, in postelection message

BC hiker missing since 14 days

BC hiker missing since 14 days
Mounties in northeastern B-C say "extensive resources" including police dogs have been deployed in the search for a man who has failed to return from a 10-day camping trip in a remote provincial park. R-C-M-P say Sam Benastick's family reported him missing on Saturday, after he didn't come home from the trip to Redfern-Keily Park, about 250 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John.

BC hiker missing since 14 days

Man Tasered after trespassing in Victoria school, forcing lockdown

Man Tasered after trespassing in Victoria school, forcing lockdown
A middle school in Victoria was forced into a lockdown after a man entered the building without permission, and police say they had to use a stun gun to make an arrest. Victoria police say officers received multiple calls around noon on Monday of an unknown male entering Central Middle School, leading staff to set off emergency procedures that put the building under lockdown. 

Man Tasered after trespassing in Victoria school, forcing lockdown

B.C. Greens' ex- leader Weaver thinks minority deal with NDP less likely than in 2017

B.C. Greens' ex- leader Weaver thinks minority deal with NDP less likely than in 2017
Former B.C. Green leader Andrew Weaver knows what it's like to form a minority government with the NDP, but says such a deal to form the province's next government is less likely this time than seven years ago. Weaver struck a power-sharing agreement that resulted in John Horgan's NDP minority government in 2017, but says there is now more animosity between the two parties.

B.C. Greens' ex- leader Weaver thinks minority deal with NDP less likely than in 2017

One Liberal MP says he's signed letter asking Trudeau to resign, others remain mum

One Liberal MP says he's signed letter asking Trudeau to resign, others remain mum
As an internal revolt brews, few Liberal MPs who are not in the cabinet are publicly defending the prime minister. The upcoming caucus meeting on Wednesday appears to present the most serious challenge to Trudeau's leadership to date.

One Liberal MP says he's signed letter asking Trudeau to resign, others remain mum