A Peel Regional Police officer has been suspended from duty after he was caught on camera participating in a contentious protest outside a Hindu temple in Brampton on Sunday.
The force is “aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel Police officer involved in a demonstration,” said Media Relations Officer Richard Chin in an email to CBC News.
“This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act,” he said. “We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until such time that this investigation is complete.”
Peel Regional Police previously said three people have been charged after violence erupted as Indian consular officials visited Hindu Sabha Mandir temple Sunday.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh homeland in northern India, and clashing with other individuals, including some holding India’s national flag.
The videos appear to show fist fights and people striking each other with poles on what appears to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
CBC Toronto has not been able to independently verify what happened in the videos.
Peel police said the event was eventually moved to two other locations in neighbouring Mississauga, where further demonstrations also took place.
On Sunday afternoon, Peel police said they were aware of the protest and had increased their presence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple to maintain public order and safety.
“We respect the right to protest in a peaceful and safe manner but will not tolerate violence and criminal acts,” Chief Nishan Duraiappah said after the videos began circulating. “Those that do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested and charged.”
The violence drew denunciations from Canadian political leaders at all levels of government and also prompted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue a rare comment at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.