Peel cop suspended after participating in protest outside Hindu temple

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 police previously said three people have been charged after violence erupted as Indian consular officials visited the temple, Hindu Sabha Mandir, on Sunday.

Videos circulating on social media 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 various videos include fist fights and people striking each other with poles. CBC News has verified the authenticity of two videos that captured the violence.

Later in the day, demonstrators made their way to the Westwood Mall in neighbouring Mississauga, according to the World Sikh Organization of Canada. A short time after, a third protest was held outside the Malton gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship on Airport Road in Mississauga.

Social media posts from the third event appear to show several dozen people gathered nearby the gurdwara, some of them waving the Indian national flag.

"Although these demonstrations occurred at three different locations, they appear to be related to one another. Several incidents between protestors and worshippers broke out," police said in a news release.

On Sunday afternoon, Peel police said they had increased their presence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir 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.