In Canada, police have arrested Khalistan activist Inderjeet Singh Ghosal on charges of assault with a weapon following a violent demonstration at a temple on Nov 3.
Ghosal was identified as the Khalistan Referendum Coordinator for the Sikhs for Justice who had organised the demonstration. He was picked up on Nov 8 after police analysed the video footage of the demonstration. He was released on bail and is expected to have his day in court.
Ghosal claims his demonstration was directed at the Indian government, not the Hindu community.
“This is not a Hindu Sikh battle. This is strictly Sikhs vs the Indian government,” he was quoted by the Toronto Star as saying.
Peel Regional Police who are carrying out the investigation, is still reviewing videos from the demonstrations of Nov 3 and 4, and are hopeful of identifying more suspects and making more arrests.
Peel police on Thursday arrested Ranendra Lal Banerjee and charged him with public incitement of hatred in connection with the violence at the temple. Two other men are also wanted for making threats and conspiring to commit assault with a weapon.
A police sergeant was earlier suspended for taking part in the demonstration and carrying a Khalistan flag. He was in civilian clothes.
A police statement said “We would like to remind the public that complex investigations such as these take time and individuals are arrested as they are identified and in no particular order. A strategic investigative team dedicated to investigating the incidents of criminality during the Nov 3 and 4 incidents has since been formed.”
While the arrest of Inderjeet Ghosal will be widely welcomed by the Hindu community, the key question remains: will the government of Canada crack down on the activities of Khalistani groups and their members now that their activities have crossed a red line?
With Reuters inputs
