Two organizers of a Sikh event scheduled for Saturday at the Capitol say they were arrested and released after being misidentified in connection with a bomb threat in the area.
Manveer Singh, organizer of the 1984 Sikh massacre memorial rally in India, said his group had received permission to gather on the hills, but when they arrived they were due to an ongoing threat. I was told that I was not allowed to be there. In the area.
Another organizer, Parminder Singh, said he had moved to the lawn in front of the nearby Canadian Supreme Court to host the event.
Minutes after their event began, Manveer Singh told him that police had arrested him and had “trustworthy information” that he was involved in a serious bomb threat on the hills. rice field.
“They believed I was going to do that. I was shocked. Am I gathering my community here to bomb them?” He said the police searched him. He added that he handcuffed him and took him to the police station for cross-examination.
Prime Minister Singh said his name was immediately arrested by Ottawa police who told him that his name was related to the threat of a parliamentary bombing.
“It doesn’t make sense because I know I’m not involved in anything. I’m proud of being a Sikh in Canada. I love this country. I want to protect this country. I will do everything, “he said.
The two organizers said police searched the car for explosives.
He added that after being detained for some time, police released him, apologized, and arrested him based on incorrect information.
Ottawa police did not answer questions about the explanation of the man’s case, saying that the investigation into the matter had now been completed and had not been prosecuted.
Police said in a statement on Saturday that they had received information about potential threats near the parliamentary grounds and urged them to close some surrounding streets for the passage of vehicles and pedestrians.
Parliamentary protection services have also ordered the evacuation of parliamentary hills, warning parliamentarians and all staff, and all buildings in the precincts will be ordered by shelter-in-place until further notice. I was careful.
Both Sikh rally organizers say they are worried about the damage done to their reputation as a result of their arrests in connection with the threat of explosives.
“It has had a serious impact on my children, my wife, and other members of the community,” said Parminder Singh.
He said his group began organizing these rallies in 2017 to attract Sikhs from all over Ontario and Quebec.
Manveer Singh said he has been holding these rallies for several years, except for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Erica Ibrahim
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