Peel police have arrested a known protest agitator after videos circulated of him calling for the Indian government to come to Canada and storm Sikh temples at a Hindu solidarity rally in Brampton, which police later declared unlawful.
The Monday night protest was in response to videos that gained national attention and showed pro-Khalistan protesters hitting Hindu worshipers at the Hindu Sabha temple with Khalistan flags in Brampton, Ontario, Sunday.
Peel Regional Police announced on Thursday that it had arrested 57-year-old Ranendra Lal Banerjee, commonly referred to as Ron Banerjee online, on Wednesday. Police are charging Banerjee with allegedly inciting hatred.
Banerjee was released with conditions and is set to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton “at a later date.”
“Police began investigating several offences that occurred during the demonstrations, many of which were captured on video,” the news release said. “In one video, an individual is captured using a loudspeaker to incite violence, calling for groups to storm Sikh temples.”
As covered previously by True North, the video in question shows Banjeera, a frequenter and typical agitator of Toronto’s protest scene, calling for the Indian government to invade Canada and raid Sikh temples.
“The Indian army must come to Canada and must storm the Sikh temples,” he said, met with cheers from the crowd. “They have no right to have those temples. They promote hate, and they promote terrorism.”
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the freedom of religion in Canada.
Banerjee, the executive director of the Hindu Conference of Canada, has been an active anti-Islam and anti-Sikh activist and Hindu supremacist in Canada for years.
He’s been arrested and investigated by police before.
Banerjee was investigated for advocating genocide before. In one interview from July 2022, he said he supported the killing of Muslims and Sikhs in India because “they deserve to die.”
In another video captured by lawyer and independent journalist Caryma Sa’d during an anti-mask rally in Toronto, Banerjee said that it was Sikh-led farmer’s rallies in India that were responsible for the spread of COVID-19.
There have also been reports of similar anti-Sikh behaviour on X, though his account is currently suspended.
Brampton’s mayor and former Conservative party candidate, Patrick Brown, congratulated Peel police on X for arresting Banerjee, saying, “Hate crime has no place in Canada!”
Peel Regional Police are also looking for two other individuals connected to Monday night’s protest, 24-year-old Armaan Gahlot from Kitchener and 22-year-old Arpit “of no fixed address.” The two are accused of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, conspiracy to commit assault with a weapon and conspiracy to commit mischief.
“As investigators make attempts to locate, they are encouraged to seek legal counsel and turn themselves into police,” the news release said. “Peel Regional Police is committed to respecting an individual’s right to protest, as per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Any acts of violence, threats of violence or vandalism will not be tolerated. We appreciate the cooperation of those who remained peaceful during these events.”
PRP also announced that it has created a “Strategic Investigative Team” to investigate all incidents of criminality that occurred during Sunday and Monday’s protests.
Investigators ask anyone with video of any demonstrations to submit them using their evidence submission portal.
Anyone with any information is also asked to contact investigators at either 12 Division Mississauga at 905-453-2121 extension 1233, or 21 Division in Brampton at 905-453-2121 extension 2133.
Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.
