Detailed Chronology Of Events Concerning Recent Pro-India Mob Violence In Brampton & Mississauga
Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC) held a press conference at Malton Gurdwara to discuss the recent pro-India mob violence targeting the Sikh community, we share their speaking notes.
Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC)
November 6, 2024 | 5 min. read | Analysis
Today, the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC), held a press conference at Malton Gurdwara to discuss the recent pro-India mob violence directed at the Sikh community. We have republished their speaking notes, which has been fact checked by the Baaz team, for our readers. The press conference was attended by major Canadian mainstream outlets.
The mayhem and carnage we have seen from pro-India mobs the last four days has been difficult to witness. Especially as it comes at the same exact time we observe the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Genocide.
There has been quite a bit of misinformation about what has transpired since this past weekend, so we would like to provide an accurate chronology of events with details to avoid further confusion.
During the early afternoon of Sunday, November 3, members of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) held a peaceful protest outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir, on public property, against Indian Consulate members who were arriving to hold a consular service clinic at the site.
The protest was not against the Mandir or the Hindu community but against the Indian consulate. Similar protests were held outside a Gurdwara that also hosted a Consulate clinic.
Remember that we have recently learned from the RCMP, CSIS, and other Canadian officials that they believe Indian consulates are being used to unleash a wave of organized crime targeting the Sikh Canadian community as a form of transnational repression and foreign interference. Six Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, were expelled for this reason, and investigations are ongoing, with Canadian elected officials also adding that more expulsions may be possible. With this in mind, the Indian Consulate should not be allowed to operate without peaceful opposition from Canadians.
During this early afternoon peaceful protest on November 3, a group of pro-India counter-protestors assembled in the Hindu Sabha Mandir parking lot. They then walked out of the parking lot towards the SFJ members protesting on public property outside the main gates and attacked them.
These pro-India attackers shouted out, “Long live Lawrence Bishnoi,” referencing the Indian gangster Canadian law enforcement believes is being used by the Indian government to conduct arsons, homicides, and extortions in Canada, targeting the Sikh Canadian community. It is worrisome that there are hundreds of people in Canada working for violent gangs such as Lawerence Bishnoi, which the Government of India is aiding.
They also approached members of the SFJ and told them they would be killed.
SFJ protestors defended themselves from the attack, and eventually, police intervened and set up a buffer zone, pushing the pro-India counter-protestors away to the other side of the driveway leading into the Mandir. No arrests were made at this demonstration.Later that afternoon, still on Sunday, November 3, and after the SFJ protestors had departed, a pro-India mob began to once again assemble in the parking lot of the Hindu Sabha Mandir and near its entrance. During this time, various extremist and hateful speeches were given, including by a priest of the Hindu Sabha Mandir, inciting violence against the Sikh Canadian community. As an aside, the Hindu Sabha committee suspended the priest yesterday, November 5, 2024, because of this hateful speech.
There are also other videos of speeches being given by Hindu Nationalist extremists at the Mandir during this time, including offering members of the pro-India mob swords and rods to attack Sikhs by far-right RSS outfits like Shiv Sena.
Again, keeping to Sunday, November 3, a mob of about 300 armed pro-Indian extremists made a late-night attack on Malton Gurwara, brandishing weapons and wearing masks. They announced upon their arrival that they would repeat the 1984 Sikh Genocide, in which countless Sikhs were killed, raped and harmed by Indian government-organized mobs.
Whatever Sikhs were present at the gurdwara quickly took to self-defensive measures in the hopes of stopping any violence. They also called Peel Regional Police immediately.
Due to the quick arrival of the Peel Regional Police and the defensive efforts of the local Sikh congregation, the assault was halted before serious damage could be done. Malton Gurdwara also issued a press release at that time, which provided some details on what transpired.
At this time, Police have arrested some individuals in connection to the attack on Malton Gurdwara.
Now, we move to Monday, November 4. CoHNA, a pro-India organization, called for an evening protest at the Hindu Sabha Mandir. The protest saw a large gathering and included speeches inciting violence, including calls for the storming of Sikh gurdwaras (which received large cheers) and Hindu Nationalist slogans.
The CoHNA protest then spilled onto Gore, a major Brampton street, as the armed pro-India mobs marched towards Sikh Gurdwaras. Along the way, they began to damage property, randomly attack Sikhs, and call for further violence. All of which was captured on video. If not for the swift action of the Peel Regional Police, and later with the assistance of the Toronto police, the mobs would have attacked nearby Gurdwaras. This is something even Mayor Patrick Brown has confirmed.
At this time, with the knowledge and assistance of local police, Sikhs gathered at various gurdwaras in a defensive measure against the pro-India mob. However, Sikhs did not clash with anyone that night and did not approach or engage with the pro-India mob in any fashion. We commend the Sikh community for their composure in the face of threats to their lives.
Eventually, the police were able to push the pro-India gathering back to the Hindu Sabha Mandir, where officers continued to face threats from the weapon-wielding mob. This would eventually necessitate a Public Order announcement, including a call to disperse or face arrests. Riot police arrived on the scene and were eventually able to subdue the mob.
OGC will like to stress the following again before concluding:
This is not a Hindu-Sikh issue.
The protest outside the mandir property was not against the mandir or the Hindu community but to protest against the Indian officials providing consular services at the temple. This is in clear contrast to the pre-planned attack at the Malton gurdwara that same evening planned by pro-India actors at the Mandir earlier that day.
While we appreciate the efforts of the law enforcement agencies, especially peel police, to protect our community and places of worship, more needs to be done to tackle misinformation being spread by the government of India.
Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC) is the largest association of Sikh Gurdwaras in Ontario, and includes Malton Gurdwara, the target of recent Anti-Sikh and Pro-India Mob violence in Peel Region.
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