Srinagar, June 20: Kashmir Sikh body on Thursday hit streets to protest the alleged “murderous assault” on one of their community members, a driver by profession, and his son and alleged ‘desecration’ of their religious symbol by the police in New Delhi recently.
Shouting slogans “don’t hurt religious sentiments, punish the culprits”, scores of Kashmiri Sikh’s holding placards which, read “make some laws to protect religious symbol, turban is identity, a promise and honor” took out a protest rally from Amirakadal to Press Encave demanding sternest punishment to the accused.
The protest was organized under the banner of Gurmat Taksal, the highest Sikh religious body.
“We will sacrifice our lives for the protection of our religious symbol; Sikhs have never been aggressive, however desecration of turban and kesh (hair) is intolerable. What was the fault of the elderly man and his son who was mercilessly thrashed in full public gaze,” said Gurmeet Singh a protester.
He said Sikh community will mobilize their community members across world to ensure justice for the poor elderly victim and his son whose only fault was denying bribe to the police official.
Singh said besides being thrashed ruthlessly by around a dozen policemen outside Mukherjee Nagar police station in New Delhi, victim’s turban and Kesh too were disrespected.
“We will ensure that the guilty should be punished for their sacrilegious act. Our prime motive to hold this protest is to convey a strong message that Sikhs will not tolerate anything that goes against their religion,” he added.
Meanwhile the protesters appealed international rights groups to look into the issue and impress upon the government of India that no such act that hurts the sentiments of a particular community takes place in future.
They also appealed the centre to ensure sternest punishment to the accused who they alleged committed sacrilegious act.
