A group of 250 pro-Khalistani protesters gathered across the street of the Indian consulate office in Toronto, Canada on Saturday. Two of the protesters were apprehended by the police after violence broke out at the rally. The rally was countered by a pro-India rally that tried to protect their diplomats and consulate office.
The pro-Khalistani protest was reportedly backed by the secessionist group called Sikhs for Justice which is infamous for its 'Kill India' posters targeting senior Indian envoys in Canada.
The two groups pro-Khalistani and pro-India faced each other near the Indian consulate office, blocking the traffic on Bloor Street in Toronto. The Police personnel there separated the two groups by a line and barricades were also kept to restrain the protestors from engaging in violence.
According to the reports the pro-Khalistan group tried to storm the pro-India contingent by breaking off the barricade but the police pushed them back. One person who escaped the police restraints was tackled and taken away by the police. While another person was apprehended for attacking a police officer. Reports suggest that the two were later released without charges.
The SFJ leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed on June 18 and his supporters held posters of him during the rally as they accused India behind the death of Nijjar. Reportedly the concerned posters also promoted the next phase of the referendum in Greater Toronto Area on July 16 and some of the protesters wore jackets with the legend of the Republic of Khalistan that bore an image of an AK47.
The pro-Khalistani group outnumbered the pro-India group but reportedly did not flinch during the attempt of attack made against them on Saturday. One of the pro-India supporters, named Arvind Mishra reportedly said, "We were successfully able to demonstrate resistance to the Khalistanis," he added, “These Khalistanis continue to violate the limits of freedom of speech."
Another Indian diaspora supporting pro-India group, Sunil Arora, told the media, "We are standing here infront of the Consulate to face the Khalistanis. We are trying to stop Khalistanis nonsense here and we are here for the solidarity of India and Canada, altogether. They are giving wrong information saying that they will kill our diplomats which is... and we are totally against that."
