Last update:November 15, 2024, 08:31 IST

In the two-minute video, police detail the results of the investigation and explain the context of the video posted on social media.

Worshipers were attacked at a temple in Brampton, Canada, by a group of Khalistan supporters. (Image: X)

Canadian Peel police released a statement Thursday clarifying the altercation between a police officer and protesters during a Alleged Khalistani attack at Hindu Mandir in Brampton saying the police officer was not in the wrong during the protest and “acted within the lawful execution of his duties.”

Videos posted on social media showed a police officer punching a protester, raising questions about police use of force.

Earlier this month, a group of protesters holding banners in support of Khalistan disrupted a consular event attended by Indian officials at the Hindu Mandir in Brampton. Protesters reportedly beat people with sticks outside the temple. The incident was condemned, notably by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

While sharing body camera footage of a police officer involved in the altercation outside the temple, regional police said an investigation into the altercation revealed that the officer was “attempting to disarm an individual who had refused to surrender his weapon and had become confrontational. »

“During the protest, it became clear that tensions were escalating and public safety was becoming a concern. For the safety of everyone present, it was decided to seize any object that could be used as a weapon,” Peel Regional Police said in a news release.

In the two-minute video, police detail the results of the investigation and explain the context of the video posted on social media.

“What the video does not show is the officer identifying a protester in an attempt to seize the weapon he is holding. The protester then retreats into the crowd and, with others, begins to physically resist the police officer. The officer’s body-worn camera, which captured the interaction, was examined,” said Officer Tyler Bell-Morena.

In the footage, the officer can be seen approaching a man who appears to be holding a stick and attempting to wrestle it from his hands. The officer was not immediately successful and a brief altercation ensued. Once the object is seized from the demonstrator, the police begin to disperse the crowd and separate the two groups of demonstrators.

“Peel Regional Police understands the video has caused concern in the community. We take all complaints regarding officer conduct seriously and have conducted a review of the incident,” the department said in a statement.

Earlier, a Canadian police officer has been suspended after he was seen participating in pro-Khalistani groups who launched an attack on Hindus at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton.

The suspended policeman, identified as Harinder Sohi, was filmed holding a Khalistan flag as other participants in the protest chanted anti-India slogans. He served as a sergeant with the Peel Regional Police.

Following the attack on Hindu worshipers in Brampton, India’s foreign ministry said New Delhi remained “deeply concerned” about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada. The MEA further called on the Trudeau-led Canadian government to protect Hindu devotees. places of worship such attacks on its soil.