OTTAWA — Canada’s local police said Monday they have arrested four individuals in relation to protests at a Hindu temple.
Peel police said in a news release that officers attended a place of worship in the area of The Gore Road in Brampton on Sunday in response to a trespassing complaint by a group of protestors.
Later a demonstration occurred in the area of Goreway Drive and Etude Drive in Mississauga. Finally, a third protest occurred shortly after at a place of worship near Airport Road and Drew Road in Mississauga, according to the release.
Although these demonstrations occurred at three different locations, they appear to be related to one another. Several incidents between protestors and worshippers broke out, the police said.
A police officer was treated in hospital for minor injuries and there were no other reports of any physical injuries, the police added.
According to local media, videos circulating online appeared to show people fighting outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir, located just off of The Gore Road and Khalistan flags, representative of the push for Sikh independence within India, were seen.
Khalistan supporters were protesting the presence of Indian officials who were visiting the temple and providing consular services, local media reported.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday issued a statement about the incident, saying that the acts of violence were “unacceptable.”
Last week, Canada accused India’s home minister Amit Shah of targeting Sikh activists which the Indian government has rejected. Last month, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials, accusing the Indian government was connected to the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year.
XINHUA