With last Sunday's violent attack of a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the main organiser of Canada's so-called Khalistan referendum has been taken into custody and arrested. Inderjeet Gosal, 35, of Brampton, was taken into custody and charged with assault with a weapon on Friday, according to the Peel Regional Police (PRP). According to the statement, he was released with restrictions and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton later.
After Khalistani radicals beat Hindu-Canadian devotees during a protest at the Hindu Sabha temple, Gosal was taken into custody on November 8. At the Gore Road rally, people started brandishing sticks and flags as weapons, and the protest turned violent. Police started looking into several crimes, many of which were caught on camera. They are still reviewing the material to find more suspects.
Gosal was given a conditional release and is expected to show up in court later. A Strategic Investigative Team has been established by the police to continue investigating the events of November 3 and 4. According to them, these enquiries take time, and when people are identified, arrests are made.
The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from both Canadian and Indian government officials. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly condemned the violence, reiterating his government’s stance against hate-driven actions and affirming the country’s commitment to protecting the rights and safety of all its citizens, including minority communities. “Religious freedom is a core Canadian value, and violence has no place in our society,” Trudeau stated in a press briefing following the arrest.
In India, the incident has further fueled existing diplomatic strains, with government officials urging Canada to take decisive action against Khalistani elements operating within its borders. The Ministry of External Affairs in India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner last week to voice its concerns and demand swift justice for the affected community members. “The safety of Indian-origin people abroad is paramount, and we urge foreign governments to ensure that no community suffers from communal or extremist violence,” said an official spokesperson.
As Canada grapples with the fallout of this event, the country faces mounting pressure to address the activities of radical Khalistani groups and ensure the safety of its diverse communities.
