Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is condemning violence that erupted Sunday when Indian consular officials visited a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, as police announced three people had been charged in the clash.

Visits by Indian officials to the Brampton temple and another in Surrey, British Columbia, sparked protests from demonstrators calling for a separate Sikh nation called Khalistan.

Videos on social media showed fights and people hitting each other with sticks on what appeared to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, while three people were also arrested at the Sri Lakshmi Narayana Hindu temple in Surrey.

The Surrey Temple released a statement accusing police of what it called “unwarranted violence against temple worshipers.”

On Monday, Modi said he expected the Canadian government to “ensure justice.”

“I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats,” Modi wrote on social media platform X.

“Such acts of violence never weaken India’s resolve.”

Another protest near the Brampton Temple on Monday evening was ordered to disperse after Peel Regional Police said on social media that weapons were seen in the crowd.

Police declared the protest an unlawful assembly and warned that anyone who remained could be arrested.

Peel Regional Police said earlier Monday that three people were arrested and charged during the weekend protests.

A 43-year-old man from Mississauga, Ontario was charged with disturbing and assaulting a police officer, and a 23-year-old man from Brampton was charged with assault with a weapon. A 31-year-old Mississauga man has been charged with mischief worth $5,000.

Police said the group of protesters moved to two separate locations in Mississauga and a police officer was slightly injured while arresting a person during the protests. They said no other injuries were reported.

Peel Regional Police also confirmed one of its officers had been suspended after a video circulating on social media allegedly showed the officer’s involvement in the Brampton protest.

“We are investigating the full circumstances described in the video and are unable to provide further information until the investigation is complete,” police said in a statement.

The group Sikhs for Justice said Khalistan supporters had protested against Indian consulate officials who announced a visit to the temple to provide administrative services such as helping the elderly access their pensions.

The group alleged that India is using these visits to find informants who can report on Khalistan supporters. He called on Ottawa to ban Indian diplomatic missions from organizing external outreach events, citing public safety.

On Monday, India’s foreign ministry condemned “acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists” at the temple and said it would continue consular activities in Canada.

“The efforts of our consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence,” read a statement from department spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. , who called on Canada to prosecute “those who engage in violence” and protect all places of worship.

Three people were also arrested Sunday during a protest in Surrey, British Columbia, where videos posted on social media showed people being taken away by police from outside the Sri Lakshmi Narayana Hindu temple.

Surrey RCMP said in a statement Monday that officers were deployed to the temple to “ensure public safety at the consular camps when hundreds of protesters with opposing views arrived and began demonstrating.”

They said violence broke out but no one was injured and the crowd dispersed shortly after the arrests. Police said the suspects were released while officers continued their investigation.

The RCMP said in its release that the officer in charge of the detachment would meet with local temple leaders to “address their concerns and ease tensions.”

This comes after the temple released a statement on social media on Sunday evening, condemning the violence outside the temple and calling for “the suspension, investigation and prosecution of police officers involved in unjustified violence against devotees of the temple.” temple “.

“These actions must be taken into account to ensure justice and prevent further tensions,” the statement said.

India has long accused Canada of harboring pro-Khalistan terrorists whom New Delhi has asked Ottawa to extradite, although Canadian officials say such requests often lack adequate evidence.

Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau caused a diplomatic rift when he announced that Canadian officials suspected Indian government agents of playing a role in the murder of a Sikh temple leader in Surrey in June 2023.

These tensions flared last month when Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations that they used their positions to gather information about Canadians participating in the pro-Khalistan independence movement, then passed the details to criminal gangs who directly targeted individuals.

India said Canada had not provided any evidence to support the allegations.

Sunday’s violence in Brampton drew condemnation from the Indian High Commission, Trudeau and leaders of other major federal parties.

Following the clash, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said on social media that “both sides need to de-escalate.”

He said he plans to bring a motion to the city council to ban protests at places of worship.

“The pro-India and pro-Khalistan sides who think it is appropriate to protest outside a place of worship are completely wrong,” he wrote. “This has to stop.”

Graham McGregor, Ontario’s interim minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, said reports of what happened at the temple were “troubling.”

“No one likes to see this kind of violence or this kind of intimidation happening outside of places of worship,” McGregor said.

— With the files of Brieanna Charlebois in Vancouver, Dylan Robertson in Ottawa and Allison Jones in Toronto.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 4, 2024.