Indian nationalists arrested for gun threats against Sikh protest in Canada

A Sikh community gathering for a protest on Indian Independence Day (August 15) in Brampton (Ontario, Canada) led to the arrests of “at least eight” Indian nationalists for threatening attendees and displaying a gun.

The news, reported by respected Panjab based Sikh news outlet Sikh Siyasat News based on corroboration from some of those that were involved in the incident, has thus far not been publicised in Canadian media. Peel Police, the local police force, issued a statement on the arrest which states five men have now been charged with fire-arms related offences.

Indian Agents arrested with firearms in Brampton Canada following Sikhs For Justice Referendum 2020 campaigners @SikhPA pic.twitter.com/XtJTVByPZG

— Dal Khalsa UK ???????????????????????????????????? (@DalKhalsaUK) August 18, 2020

The incident took place in a Brampton Shopping Plaza carpark (between Bramalea Road and Sandalwood Parkway), an agreed meeting place for attendees of the Sikhs For Justice led demonstration in against celebration of India’s independence day and in support of Khalistan, the movement for a free Sikh homeland in India. The protestors were meeting there before heading to Toronto’s India consulate to demonstrate. Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) are a Sikh advocacy organisation most known for their promotion of a democratic 2020 Khalistan referendum in India, a campaign which has been deemed illegal by Indian authorities.

Attendees claim eight people came out of two vehicles and began threatening those there for the protest against India, visible from their Khalistan 2020 Referendum t-shirts. One of the vehicles had a gun on display on the dashboard and an Indian flag draped across it. Protestors state they were threatened by the men, some of whom were dressed in India garb, against going to the India consulate for their anti-India pro-Khalistan protest. Peel Police say they received a call about this incident at 9.15am.

For more from Sikh Siyasat on this, including quotes from those that witnessed the incident, read their article here.