Local media in India are reporting that two young children were beaten by police after stealing a purse from a staff member of visiting Canadian Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla.
Dhalla, who is on a tour speaking at various conferences in the region, is condemning the alleged beatings.
The MP for Brampton-Springdale told CTV's Canada AM that she was at an event Monday when one of her aides realized that her purse had been stolen.
"We also realized at the same time that these two young children that also had been at the event were also missing," Dhalla said Thursday.
She said an announcement was made on stage and police ran after the children.
"They recovered the purse and we proceeded with carrying on the event inside," said Dhalla.
"It was ironic because in my speech following the incident I asked all of the attendees to forgive the children for their mistake and highlighted the importance of reaching out to these children and looking at the issue of poverty in the community."
Dhalla said she did not see the children being punished. The suspects are reportedly brother and sister, ages 11 and 9, reports the Toronto Star.
Photos being shown by local media show the boy being dragged and beaten. The girl is also shown begging for mercy.
"I learned of the fact that these children had been physically restrained a day following the incident," Dhalla told Canada AM.
"I immediately contacted the commissioner of police for Punjab to condemn the violence and to condemn the way these children have been treated."
In local media, one news anchor called Dhalla "shockingly callous" because of the following comment she made the day of the incident:
"I cannot control what the police does," Dhalla told local reporters. "... I hope that those young kids learn from this incident."
However, Dhalla told The Globe and Mail that her comments were "misconstrued" and that the situation had been "hyped up" by the local media.
Dhalla was later shown in the local news saying that she condemned any type of violence against children.
She has asked the commissioner to launch an investigation and that one is already underway.
Dhalla also told CTV Newsnet that she was planning to meet with the two children.
