Hindu Temple Vandalised In Canada, Pro-Khalistani And 'Wanted' Posters Of Indian Diplomats Put Up

A Hindu temple in Canada's British Columbia was vandalised with pro-Khalistani posters being pasted on its front gate and wall.

New Delhi: A Hindu temple in Canada's British Columbia was vandalised with pro-Khalistani posters being pasted on its front gate and wall. The incident took place at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey town in British Columbia. The latest incident comes days after another Hindu temple in Canada's Ontario was defaced with anti-India graffiti and posters.

A CCTV footage of two men pasting the posters on the gate of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir has gone viral on social media, according to a report by Hindustan Times. The anti-India posters were later removed from the gate after it was discovered by the temple staff.

(India.com do not verify the authenticity of the video)

Two posters were reportedly pasted on the front gate and rear wall of the Hindu temple. One poster had photographs of 'wanted' Indian diplomats while the other one called for Canada to probe India's "role" in the "assassination" of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18.

Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada.

Canada-based Nijjar was designated a 'terrorist' by India under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020 and his property in the country was attached by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2020.

Interpol Red Corner Notice was also issued against him in 2016. The local police of Surrey had also put Nijjar under house arrest temporarily in 2018 on suspicion of his terror involvement but he was released later.

Nijjar, a native of village Bhar Singh Pura in Jalandhar, Punjab, had a long tryst with Khalistan militancy since migrating to Canada in 1995.

Initially, an operative of Babbar Khalsa, he was involved in some of the most high-profile terror cases of the first decade of the millennium including the Shingar Cinema bomb blast (Ludhiana, 2007) and the assassination of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat President Rulda Singh (Patiala, 2009). He was introduced to Pakistan-based fugitive KTF supremo Jagtar Singh Tara, now incarcerated in India, in 2011 and switched to the newly formed KTF. Nijjar also funded Tara handsomely from Canada and financed his shifting of base from Pakistan to Thailand in 2014, officials were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Nijjar was learnt to have formed an alliance with fellow Surrey-based Punjabi gangster Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala and of late delved into organised financial crimes both in Punjab and in Canada in order to finance his terror plans.

Pro-Khalistani Supporters Target Indian Diplomats In Canada

Last month, a group of 250 pro-Khalistani protesters, backed by the secessionist group called Sikhs for Justice, created a ruckus on the streets of Ontario in a series of incidents targeting India. Following this, a pro-India rally to protect the Indian diplomats and consulate office was also held.

A faceoff ensued between the two groups - pro-Khalistani and pro-India- near the Indian consulate office. The two groups were later separated by a police team. The pro-Khalistan group, who tried to storm the Indian consulate by breaking off the barricade, was later stopped by police.

Canada Issue Notice On Safety Of Indian Diplomats

Last week, Canada's public safety department said it is working to ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic representatives in the country following the circulation of an online video in connection with threats against Indian diplomats, underlining that there is no place in the country for the "incitement of violence."

The statement by Public Safety Canada came nearly a month after the circulation of Khalistani posters online which named Indian officials. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said India had asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to "extremist Khalistani ideology" as it is "not good" for relations.

"There is no place in Canada for the incitement of violence. Law enforcement has been engaged following the circulation of an online video in relation to threats against Indian diplomatic officials," Public Safety Canada said on platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Canadian law enforcement and the Government continue to work to ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic representatives in Canada," it said last week.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly last month assured India of the safety of its diplomats and termed the "promotional material" circulating ahead of a Khalistan rally "unacceptable".

In June, India slammed Canada after visuals surfaced on social media of a tableau in Brampton that reportedly celebrated the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.