BRAMPTON, Canada (Diya TV) — A Canadian police officer, Harinder Sohi, who was caught on camera holding a Khalistani flag during a violent protest at a Hindu temple, has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Peel Regional Police. The incident, which occurred during a pro-Khalistani rally at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, escalated into an attack on worshippers, sparking outrage and calls for Sohi’s suspension.
The November 3 protest occurred on Diwali weekend, with demonstrators carrying anti-India flags and chanting slogans before entering the temple grounds where the Indian High Commission had planned a public event. Footage of the altercation, which quickly went viral, featured Sohi, attending in plain clothes and off-duty, holding a Khalistani flag as protesters clashed with temple devotees.
Despite the footage showing that Sohi appears to be aligned with the protesters, Peel Regional Police launched an investigation into his actions. In a statement, the police department said Sohi, a sergeant of the force, was trying to disarm individuals who had refused to surrender their weapons and had become confrontational. “He acted within the lawful execution of his duties,” Peel Police said.
The officer was trying to de-escalate the situation and disarm people carrying sticks and flagpoles that could have been used as weapons,” the police said. Bodycam footage from the scene, released as part of the investigation, showed Sohi approaching a man holding a stick and attempting to take it from him, before the crowd dispersed in a brief struggle.
Peel Police further explained that officers at the scene were focused on defusing the escalating violence. “To maintain peace and order and to prevent injuries, officers began seizing several items that could be used as weapons, including bats, sticks, and flagpoles,” the statement read.
Sohi’s involvement in the protest, especially his visible role holding a Khalistani flag, led to widespread criticism from the Indian community and calls for his suspension. Critics also questioned the impartiality because an image of a policeman displaying solidarity with a pro-Khalistani rally evokes serious issues. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs also raised grave concerns regarding safety among Indian nationals and sacred places of worship in Canada, asking the Canadian government to devise stronger measures that will prevent such attacks from happening again.
Despite the early outrage, Peel police reaffirmed their stance with Sohi, saying he was merely doing his job to quell further escalation. “What the video doesn’t show is the officer identifying a protester holding a weapon and attempting to seize it before tensions boiled over,” Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said.
