Canada temple vandalism: Cops arrest 3 people in connection with temple robberies

Canadian law enforcement authorities have arrested three people, and is searching for a fourth in connection with a series of break-ins and robberies that have targeted places of worship, mainly Hindu temples.

A large number of those incidents, which included vandalisation, occurred in the Greater Toronto Area late last year and earlier this year.

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The police said, between November 2021 and March 2022, the suspects gained access into buildings, proceeded to remove cash from donation boxes inside the premises, and subsequently fled the area.

The three identified are Indo-Canadian residents of Brampton, Jagdish Pandher, 39, Gursharnjeet Dhindsa, 31, and Parminder Gill, 42, and they have been charged with disguise with intent and break, enter and commit an indictable offence.

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Canadian authorities further said, there were as many as 13 such episodes in the Greater Toronto region, of which nine involved Hindu temples, two Jain temples and Sikh gurdwaras.

The arrests have led to a sense of relief within the Hindu community in the area, since temples were the principal targets over the protracted period.

The police are working with temples to enhance security across places of worship, to provide additional patrols, safety tips and an open line of communication to address concerns.