Summary Clashes between police and Sikhs have claimed at least two lives in Indian Punjab
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Sikhs on Monday have boycotted visits and relations with India until the person who desecrated the holy book is not arrested.
A committee headed by Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Siddqueul Farooq and Sardar Sham Singh held a meeting in Lahore’s gurdawara today.
The meeting agreed unanimously to a resolution passed by MPA Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora in the Punjab Assembly. The resolution states that no Pakistani Sikh would visit India until the alleged culprit is arrested.
The participants also showed concern over repulsive treatment with people endorsing minority faiths in India.
Earlier on October 12, a holy book, bir was desecrated in Bargari village near Faridkot’s Kotkapura area. The book was reported stolen in June from a gurdwara. On Sunday, pages of the book were seen torn and thrown in the street.
Following the blasphemous act, clashes between police and Sikhs have claimed at least two lives while nearly 70 are reported injured in Indian Punjab.
‘Khalistan’ movement led by Sikhs is also ongoing in India. Sikhs have demanded separation from India due to tensions in the past while the recent act has fueled the friction.
The Sikh community has raised pro-Pakistan slogans in Indian occupied Kashmir today. The community, in Baramulla of northern Kashmir took to the streets and burnt tyres as demonstration of protest against the desecration of the holy book.
The Kashmir Media Service reported that slogans “Kashmir banega Pakistan, Punjab bange Khalsa” were heard in the protests. The agitated Sikhs also raised anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slogans.
A Congress MLA has resigned after the incident as it falls in his constituency. The district is seeing a complete shutdown for the last four days.
