Canada: Brampton restricts protests near places of worship after violence at Hindu temple

The Brampton City Council on Thursday passed a legislation banning protests outside places of worship weeks after pro-Khalistani demonstrations outside the Hindu Sabha temple triggered violent clashes.

The altercation outside the temple invoked strong responses from within Canada and abroad with many condemning the incident. Earlier this month, a protest occurred at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton and unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show demonstrators holding banners supporting Khalistan.

The videos showed fist fights and people striking each other with poles on what appeared to be the temple’s surrounding grounds.

What does the new bylaw say?

Brampton City Mayor Patrick Brown moved the new bylaw prohibiting protests around religious places and was passed unanimously.

“In this country, we protect the right to protest as long as it does not infringe upon another right," Brown noted.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

Talking to the Toronto Star, Brown expressed concerns about the rising sectarian animosity in the city.

He said, “I will put forward a motion that will be voted on. I expect it to be unanimously passed, prohibiting protests at places of worship.”

Arrests made

Last week, the Canadian police arrested a 35-year-old Brampton resident on charges of assault with a weapon during a violent demonstration at a Hindu temple in the city, authorities said.

The Peel Regional Police responded to the altercation during the demonstration at the Mandir. As tensions between opposing sides increased, the demonstrations became physical and assaultive.

Police began investigating several offences that occurred during the demonstration, many of which were captured on video; including individuals using flags and sticks to assault people, it said.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and Strategic Investigation Team (SIT) have arrested and charged Inderjeet Gosal of Brampton, the Peel Police statement said.

Gosal, is Sikhs for Justice coordinator for Canada, Toronto Star reported.

With inputs from PTI