Khalistani mob attacks journalist in Vancouver

Independent Canadian journalist Mocha Bezirgan on Sunday accused pro-Khalistan supporters of heckling, assaulting and intimidating him during a rally in Vancouver. Bezirgan, who has extensively covered Khalistani extremist activities in Canada, claimed he was targeted solely for doing his job.

In a social media post, Bezirgan described how a foreign activist—identified as a British national—approached him under the guise of seeking an interview but suddenly began threatening and harassing him. “He refused to keep his distance from my face and made violent threats. I kept walking away, but he won’t stop,” Bezirgan wrote on X.

He alleged the individual snatched his phone despite police presence and prior warnings. He also instigated others to obstruct his reporting. “He followed me, mobilised people to interfere with my work and repeatedly appeared behind me,” Bezirgan said, adding that the same person had previously doxed him.

In a separate video, Bezirgan showed two men blocking his exit. “These intimidation tactics won’t silence me or compromise my editorial independence,” he asserted, accusing them of using fear to suppress dissent.

After filing a police complaint, Bezirgan was escorted to safety by the Vancouver Police. He called for strict legal action, including possible deportation of the foreign activist, stressing that such interference in journalism is unacceptable in a democracy. The Canadian authorities have not yet publicly addressed the incident.

Speaking to news channels, Bezirgan also expressed concern over the rising influence of Khalistani extremism in the West, particularly Canada, and its troubling ties to mainstream politics.

“This is largely driven by the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which organises rallies across Canada, the US, the UK and New Zealand. While the SFJ handles grassroots mobilisation, groups like the World Sikh Organisation (WSO), a Canadian entity with deep institutional links, provide political cover,” he said.

Notably, the Indian Government has already banned the SFJ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), citing evidence of its anti-national activities.