Durham police identifies suspect in multiple Hindu temple break-and-enter

Durham Regional Police have identified the suspect behind multiple break-and-enters at Hindu temples this year in Canada and he has been held for a bail hearing, the Durham Regional Police said in a media release.

Recently, in October, the 41-year-old Jagdish Pandher from Brampton, was caught while committing additional break-and-enters at Hindu temples in Canada’s Pickering and Ajax.
According to a media release by the Durham Regional Police, on October 8, at approximately 12:45 am, members of the West Division responded to reports of a break-and-enter in progress at a Hindu temple in the area of Bayly Street and Krosno Boulevard in Pickering.

“A male was seen on security surveillance breaking into the temple and taking a large quantity of cash from the donation boxes,” the release stated.
However, he fled the area before the police’s arrival but was seen on surveillance footage later that morning committing “additional break-and-enters at Hindu temples in Pickering and Ajax.”

The investigators have linked the same suspect to numerous other break-and-enters at Hindu temples throughout the year.
“These break-and-enters occurred in the Durham Region and around the Greater Toronto Area,” the release said.
According to the release, although these offences occurred at places of worship, they do not appear to be hate crimes or motivated by hate.

Jagdish Pandher is facing charges for numerous offences, including break-and-enter place other than dwelling x4, possessing property obtained by crime under USD 5000 x4, break-and-enter with intent x1, and breach of probation x5, the release highlighted.
Meanwhil in a separate incident on Wednesday, shots were fired at the residence of an Indian-origin man in Canada’s Surrey in the early morning. The incident took place at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, the president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, in Surrey.

The incident happened at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue, Surrey.
Reportedly, no one was injured during the incident.
Earlier in August this year, a Hindu temple was vandalised in Canada by extremist elements with Khalistan referendum posters in the late hours of Saturday, Australia Today reported. The incident happened in British Columbia, Canada.

This was not the first such attack on Hindu temples in Canada. Multiple such incidents have been carried out by Khalistani extremists. Several incidents were also recorded this year. In April this year, BAPS Swaminarayan temple was vandalised with anti-India graffiti in Windsor Ontario, Canada.
Earlier in February, the Ram Mandir in Canada’s Mississauga was vandalised with anti-India graffiti.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto condemned the defacing of the Mandir and requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators.
IN BOX
Gunshots target home of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir President’s son
Shots were at the residence of an Indian-origin man in Canada’s Surrey.

Following this, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been investigating the incident.
The firing happened on Wednesday (December 27) in the early morning at the residence of the son of Satish Kumar, the president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, in Surrey. The incident happened at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue, Surrey. According to the Police no one was injured during the incident.

According to the Constable Parmbir Kahlon, Media Relations Officer for Surrey Police, the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes.
“On December 27, 2023 at approximately 8:03 am, Surrey RCMP responded a to a report of shots fired at a residence in the 14900 block of 80 Avenue. No one was injured during the incident, but the residence involved sustained damage consistent with bullet holes.

Police remained in the area, examining the scene, speaking with witnesses and canvassing the neighbourhood for CCTV footage. The Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has conduct of the investigation.
Officers are still working to determine the motive of this incident. Anyone with more information, including dash cam footage of the incident, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP” the Surrey Police said in its press release.

Reportedly, the Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has conducted the investigation, and the officers are working to determine the motive of this incident, adding that the identities of the perpetrators are not known yet.
The Surrey Police have not confirmed any link of the attack to recent threats recieved by the Laxhmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.

Earlier in November, India-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya shared a purported video of Pro Khalistani supporters in Surrey claiming they want to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir there.