Inderjeet Gosal: Key facts about man arrested by Canadian police for Hindu temple violence

After the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year, Inderjeet Gosal became the main Canadian organiser for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The 35-year-old has recently been arrested by Canadian police in connection with a violent incident at a Hindu temple in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Considered to be the right-hand man of SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun , Gosal was released on conditions by Peel Regional Police (PRP) and is set to appear in Ontario Court in Brampton.

The incident, which took place at Brampton’s Hindu Sabha Mandir on 3 November, saw Khalistani activists allegedly attacking Hindu-Canadian worshippers. According to PRP, what began as a demonstration involving flags and banners quickly escalated into physical assaults.

At the heart of this conflict is Gosal, a coordinator for the banned SFJ group, which campaigns for a Khalistan referendum . Authorities have confirmed that Gosal faces charges related to the attack on the temple.

Key Facts About Inderjeet Gosal

Inderjeet Gosal took over from Hardeep Singh Nijjar as the primary organiser for SFJ in Canada following Nijjar’s death in British Columbia in June 2023. He is known to be a close associate of SFJ’s general counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, whom India designates as a terrorist.

Canadian authorities previously issued a "duty to warn" notice to Gosal, listing him among 13 Canadians identified as potential targets of violence against pro-Khalistan activists, with support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

SFJ alleges that Gosal was targeted himself during a pro-Khalistan protest at the Hindu temple in Brampton, which was hosting a consular camp attended by Indian consulate officials from Toronto.

Gosal said last month that he was prepared to sacrifice his life for an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab, saying, “I know what I signed up for, death doesn’t scare me,” as reported by The Financial Times.

The Khalistan Movement and Escalating Tensions

The demand for a Sikh state, Khalistan, traces back to the independence movement, later intensified by anti-Sikh violence following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Gosal and his supporters describe these events as “genocide,” which they claim forced many Sikhs to flee to Canada.

The recent attack on the Hindu temple in Brampton has further strained diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders condemned the violence, with MP Chandra Arya criticising Canada’s leaders for failing to protect the Hindu community.

The Indian High Commission in Canada also condemned the "violent disruption" by anti-India activists outside the consular camp.