New Delhi, 9 December 2024: Members of the Indo-Canadian community have recently engaged with Canadian law enforcement agencies, expressing concerns over a perceived two-tier policing system and an increase in Hinduphobia. These discussions took place with the Toronto Police Service’s Hate Crime Unit, Peel Regional Police (PRP) in Ontario, and the Surrey Police Service in British Columbia.
During a meeting organized by the Canadian chapter of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA) on Saturday, Toronto Police acknowledged their awareness of hate crimes against Hindus and urged the community to come forward and report such incidents for investigation. “Our goal was to educate the community on how to report hate crimes and to give the police a chance to address our concerns. It was crucial to express the community’s frustration,” said Rishabh Sarswat, president of COHNA Canada.
Police emphasized the importance of reporting both hate crimes and hate incidents, noting that lack of reporting prevents such acts from being officially recorded and recognized. “Without reporting and recording, Hinduphobia can be denied,” Sarswat added.
While the community has appreciated Toronto Police’s role in maintaining order during a consular camp at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir on November 30, concerns remain over the response of PRP following the violent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton by pro-Khalistan radicals on November 3.
A Hindu community delegation met with PRP, including Chief Nishan Duraiappah, on November 25. According to meeting minutes shared with the Hindustan Times, the community expressed a loss of trust in the PRP following the attack. “People were looking to the PRP for security, but after what happened, their trust was broken,” the community stated. In response, Duraiappah acknowledged the fear and distrust felt by the community and assured that the PRP would work to rebuild that trust. To that end, the PRP is looking to establish an Interim Hindu Advisory Committee to address community concerns.
The meeting also addressed the participation of PRP Sergeant Harinder Sohi in a pro-Khalistan protest. Duraiappah clarified that the officer’s actions are under review by the PRP Professional Standards Division. Victims and witnesses to the November 3 assault attended the meeting and were asked by PRP to assist in encouraging others to report incidents and provide evidence such as videos, photos, and social media posts.
Vijay Jain, president of the Vishwa Jain Sangathan Canada and coordinator of the meeting, called the discussion a “constructive step forward” and emphasized the need for continued engagement to rebuild trust and ensure the community’s safety. “The community’s demand for a Special Investigation Team to address two-tier policing has been addressed, but much more remains to be done to ensure progress and accountability in these cases,” he said.
In Surrey, British Columbia, the management of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir has held multiple discussions with the Surrey Police Service regarding arrests made during a pro-Khalistan demonstration at the temple on November 3. Parshotam Goel, a spokesperson for the temple, stated that the community had conveyed its dissatisfaction with the arrests, particularly the use of excessive force during the detention of a minor. The charges against two of those arrested have been dropped, and the temple is seeking legal advice on the lawfulness of the arrests and the actions taken by police within their premises.
