One person has been arrested in Canada for his involvement in the August 12 desecration of temples in the country. This is the first arrest made by the Canadian police in connection with the August 12 incident. Pro-Khalistan graffiti was spraypainted on the walls of temples and anti-India posters were plastered on them.

According to a Hindustan Times report, a spokesperson for the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said an “individual” was arrested in connection to incidents on August 12 and August 14.

The police, however, did not identify the person taken into custody.

On August 12, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey was desecrated with posters featuring photographs of India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa as well as its Consul Generals in Toronto and Vancouver with the word ‘Wanted’ written under them. The posters were pasted on the front gate of the temple.

Another poster stuck to the rear gate of the temple, called for Canada to investigate India’s “role” in the “assassination” of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Another temple was targeted on August 14 with a series of posters referring to the June 18 killing of Nijjar.

Tensions between New and Ottawa escalated after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau claimed India’s involvement in the Khalistani terrorist’s murder.

India termed the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a Canadian diplomat from the country in a retaliatory move. New Delhi further suspended its visa service in Canada and asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats posted in the country.