Inderjeet Gosal, Khalistani leader behind Hindu temple attack in Canada, arrested

Inderjeet Gosal, known as the primary organizer of Canada’s Khalistan referendum, was arrested in connection with last week’s violence at a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Gosal, a 35-year-old Brampton resident, was taken into custody Friday and charged with assault with a weapon, according to a statement released by Peel Regional Police (PRP) on Saturday. The statement also stated that Gosal was released under certain conditions and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

Gosal’s arrest on November 8 followed an incident in which pro-Khalistan demonstrators reportedly attacked Hindu-Canadian devotees during a protest at the Hindu Sabha temple. The demonstration, held on Gore Road, quickly turned violent as some participants used flags and sticks as weapons. Police have collected video evidence of the fight and are trying to identify others involved.

A special Strategic Investigation Team was established by the PRP to further investigate these events, focusing on the events that occurred on 3 and 4 November. Authorities emphasized that such investigations take time and that they plan to make more arrests as they identify suspects.

Violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3 saw pro-Khalistan activists engaging in physical attacks against Hindu devotees. According to the statement made by the police, PRP intervened after the demonstration where flags and banners were displayed turned into violence.

Gosal, who serves as coordinator of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned organization in India, is identified by authorities as the chief organizer of the Khalistan referendum in Canada and has been charged in connection with the recent attack on the Hindu temple.

SFJ, on the other hand, claimed that Gosal was unfairly targeted during the pro-Khalistan demonstration held in front of the Hindu Sabha temple, which was hosting a consular event at the time. Officials from the Indian consulate in Toronto were reportedly at the scene during the protest.

In a recent statement to The Financial Times, Gosal expressed his commitment to the Khalistan movement: “I know what I signed up for, death does not scare me.”

(With input from institutions)