Brampton declares gender-based violence an epidemic, focus on Brijesh Mishra's bail hearing and calls for action
Brampton, June 25: In response to the recent tragic deaths of women in Brampton and Mississauga, the city has taken swift action. During Brampton's Committee of Council meeting on June 21, a unanimous vote was cast to declare gender-based violence and intimate partner violence as an epidemic.
This significant motion, put forth by Brampton Councillors Navjit Kaur Brar and Rowena Santos, aligns the city with 24 other municipalities and regions in Ontario that have already taken this crucial step.
Brar emphasised the alarming connection between gender-based violence, abuse, and femicide, highlighting the urgent need for a system that takes reports of abuse, harassment, and stalking seriously. The recent tragic deaths in Brampton and Mississauga have spurred the city into immediate action.
One devastating incident involved Davinder Kaur, whose life was tragically cut short on May 19 in Brampton's Sparrow Park. Nav Nishan Singh, identified as her estranged husband, allegedly stabbed her multiple times. Rebecca Pacheco, the Public Education and Community Collaboration coordinator for Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA), stressed the urgency of the issue, citing the prevalence of femicide and gender-based violence in Brampton and the wider community.
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Pacheco revealed that there have already been two femicides in Peel Region this year, with four tragic cases occurring last year. Among the reported incidents are the shooting death of Pawanpreet Kaur, a Brampton woman killed while working at a Mississauga Petro-Canada gas station in December, and the stabbing death of Chandanpreet Kaur at a busy Mississauga Canadian Tire.
Pacheco called for the formal recognition of intimate partner violence and gender-based violence as an epidemic to raise awareness and prompt immediate action. Sharon Mayne Devine, CEO of Catholic Family Services, Safe Centre of Peel, highlighted that more women are now seeking help and emphasised that victims should never blame themselves for the abuse they endure.
As awareness continues to grow and more women seek support, Santos acknowledged the need for increased funding. She emphasised that the lack of safe spaces contributes to the rise in violence, underscoring the critical importance of sufficient funding for initiatives addressing this issue. Santos also noted that with the formal declaration of an epidemic, requests for funding and support will carry greater weight, bringing hope for positive change and protection for women within the Punjabi community.
Mishra Arrested, Spotlight on Legal Proceedings
The arrest of Brijesh Mishra, the alleged mastermind behind a fake admission letter scam, has instilled hope among Indian students in Canada. Many of them faced the threat of deportation due to the scam and now anticipate the truth behind the deceitful scheme to be exposed, with the guilty held accountable.
Mishra, previously operating his agency in Jalandhar, is currently held at the Surrey Pre-Trial Detention Centre in British Columbia. As his case moves forward, his bail hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 26, allowing for further legal proceedings.
Facing serious allegations, Brijesh Mishra has been charged with five counts under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Sumit Sen, a Canadian immigration lawyer representing numerous affected students, expressed his intention to subpoena Mishra to court for cross-examination. Sen also asserted that court orders would summon Mishra's known connections in Canada.
Air India Crash Victims' Families Demand Wreckage Display
The families of victims from the Air India terrorist bombings are calling for the wreckage of the bombed aircraft to be publicly displayed. As preparations for the 38th annual memorial meeting, honoring the 331 victims, including 82 children, are underway, former Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer shared the details.
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. in Vancouver, serving as a solemn reminder of the devastating bombing of Flight 182 from Vancouver in 1985—the most significant air disaster in Canadian history. The memorial will take place at the Air India Memorial in Stanley Park's Ceperley Playground.
The memorial will not only focus on remembering the victims of the tragic terrorist bombing but also pay tribute to their family members. Additionally, the event will honor the two baggage handlers in Narita, Japan, who lost their lives almost simultaneously when a second terrorist bomb, intended for another Air India flight, exploded prematurely.
India Seeks Extradition of Vancouver Residents Linked to Tragic Gujarati Family Deaths
Indian authorities have initiated the extradition process for two Vancouver residents, Fenil Patel and Bitta Singh (also known as Bittu Paji), accused of facing charges related to the tragic deaths of a family in southern Manitoba. Chaitanya Mandlik, the deputy commissioner of police for Ahmedabad's crime branch in Gujarat, confirmed the extradition efforts and mentioned the necessity of interviews and gathering further information from the individuals.
The Canadian Justice Department spokesperson, Ian McLeod, explained that extradition requests are confidential communications between states. Thus, the department cannot disclose the existence of a potential request until it becomes public through the courts. The devastating incident occurred on January 19, 2022 when Canadian authorities discovered the lifeless bodies of Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their two children, Vihangi (11 years old) and Dharmik (3 years old), near the U.S. border in Emerson, Manitoba.
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- With inputs from agencies
