• Source:JND
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Inderjeet Gosal, a 35-year-old Brampton resident, was arrested on Saturday by Canada's Peel Regional Police in connection with the violent protests at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3. Gosal was taken into custody on November 8 after the pro-Khalistan protests triggered unrest. The police later released him under conditions and directed him to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a future date. Gosal was the principal organiser of the controversial Khalistan referendum in Canada, according to officials.

Gosal is considered to be the lieutenant of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel of secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The Indian government has banned SFJ, designating it as a terror group and Pannun as a terrorist.

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Who Is Inderjeet Gosal? 

Inderjeet Gosal is the Sikhs for Justice's main Canadian organiser after Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in British Columbia in June 2023. While the Canadian government alleged that Indian officials were involved in the killing of Nijjar, Gosal was among the 13 citizens of the Khalistani elements who were believed to be the targets of the criminal violence. Later, Pannun revealed that the police in Ontario province had issued a "duty to warn" notice to Gosal. 

Expressing his commitment to the cause, Gosal previously said that he was aware of the threats and that the path he has chosen was full of risks. He emphasised that he was ready to die for a separate land for Sikhs in India. "I know what I signed up for, death doesn't scare me," Gosal was quoted as saying by The Financial Times.

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Gosal earlier said that the statements from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were not politically motivated, and he was trying to safeguard the citizens of Canada. "I just think that Justin Trudeau is just following his principles. He believes in rights and he believes in keeping his Canadian citizens safe," Gosal was quoted as saying by the Moneycontrol. 

Amid escalated diplomatic tension between India and Canada, Khalistani extremists attacked a Hindu devotee in Brampton on November 3. Several politicians, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and MP Chandra Arya, criticised the act and termed it "unacceptable.".