Photo: Facebook/Lakshmi Narayan Mandir

RCMP officers arrest man on the ground

A Hindu temple in Surrey, British Columbia, is calling for the suspension of police officers involved in what it calls “unwarranted violence against temple worshipers” during Sunday’s unrest 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 demonstrated outside the temple on Sunday during a visit by Indian consular officials.

The temple released a statement on social media condemning what it called an “attack on the Hindu temple by extremist elements”, saying it highlights the “urgent need” for government officials to stop the escalation of violence.

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

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

They said violence broke out and, although no one was injured, three people were arrested.

Videos show RCMP and Surrey Police officers present.

Asked about allegations of unwarranted police violence by the temple, the RCMP said Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards, officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP detachment, “continues to meet with local temple leadership to address their concerns.”

Similar unrest took place on Sunday at a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, which 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 British Columbia government did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke called the Surrey incident “deeply troubling” and said she had contacted the premier of British Columbia, David Eby.

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

“I am speaking with all parties involved and calling on the Surrey community to remain calm.”

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

The group Sikhs for Justice said Khalistan supporters had protested against the presence of Indian consulate officials.

The group said India is using these visits to find informants who can report on Khalistan supporters.

The group called on Ottawa to ban Indian diplomatic missions from holding external outreach events, citing public safety.

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

Sikhs for Justice also held a similar protest in Vancouver on Saturday, but a British Columbia 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 origin the chance to meet with consular officials to complete administrative tasks, mostly related to their pensions, without having to travel to the consulate in Vancouver.

The Khalsa Diwan Society, which operates the Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver, said in court documents that it expected “intense protests” at two consular camps in light of the RCMP allegations. The second camp is scheduled for November 16.