Canada probing presence of 'off-duty' cop among Khalistanis who attacked Hindu temple in Brampton

A police officer was suspended by Canadian authorities after he was caught on camera taking part in the Khalistani demonstration who attacked devotees at the Hindu temple in Brampton.

Canada's Peel Regional Police on Monday said three people have been arrested and charged over the incident that happened on Sunday.

The authorities have launched a probe into the officer, identified as Sergeant Harinder Sohi, an 18-year-veteran of the service, who was seen taking part in the Khalistani demonstration. Sohi has claimed that he is receiving death threats after being outed as a participant of the attack team. 

Sohi was seen carrying a Khalistan flag, chanting anti-India slogans along with other demonstrators. 

Peel police spokesperson Richard Chin acknowledged Sohi's presence among the Khalistani demonstrators, stating they were "aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel police officer involved in a demonstration."

"This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act. We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until such time that this investigation is complete," Chin added.

Also read: What happened at Brampton temple? MP says Canadian Khalistanis 'crossed the red line'

Sohi has not been charged so far as he has not yet been accused of committing a crime. If charged, he will get the support of the police union as an off-duty incident generally does not receive funding for their legal defences.

On whether Sohi was working in plain clothes, police union sources told Toronto Sun that he does not work in an undercover capacity.

After the attack, Canadian MP Chandra Arya had stated that he believes there is a "small grain of truth in the reports that in addition to Canadian political apparatus, Khalistanis have effectively infiltrated into our law enforcement agencies."

Meanwhile, the Peel police have arrested and charged Dilpreet Singh Bouns, 43, of Mississauga, Vikas, 23, of Brampton and Amritpal Singh, 31, of Mississauga, in connection with the case.

The police said the same protesters who demonstrated outside the Brampton temple later relocated to two separate locations in Mississauga, Ontario.

The action comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to condemn the attack on a Hindu temple in Canada while urging the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.