Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir protest Taliban act, call shutdown Tuesday
February 22nd, 2010 - 9:03 pm ICT by IANS
Jammu, Feb 22 (IANS) Sikh organisations in Jammu and Kashmir have called for a general strike Tuesday to protest against the beheading of a Sikh by the Taliban near Pakistan’s Peshawar city.
Addressing a press conference Monday, Sudershan Singh Wazir, convenor of the All Jammu and Kashmir Sikh United Front, said what happened to Sikhs in Pakistan was “brutal”.
“It is unacceptable,” he said.
The body of Jaspal Singh was found in Pakistan’s restive tribal region Sunday, triggering panic in the small community that has faced the ire of the Taliban for some time.
Jaspal was kidnapped along with two other Sikhs — Gurvinder Singh and Gurjit Singh — from Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency near the provincial capital Peshawar 34 days ago, DawnNews and other Pakistani media reported.
The BBC, however, said two Sikhs had been done to death, and identified the second man as Mastan Singh. The Taliban demanded Rs.3 crore as ransom for their release, media reports said.
Wazir claimed that several student organizations, the Jammu Bar Association and Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry have also supported the shutdown call Tuesday.
“This is to show to the world how the Sikh community is facing harassment in Pakistan. They are being pressurised to convert and are being killed,” Wazir said, demanding that the centre should raise the issue with Pakistan.
- Beheading of Sikh condemned by Pakistan, India (Intro Roundup) - Feb 23, 2010
- After beheading, Pakistani Sikhs want to flee to India (Roundup) - Feb 22, 2010
- MPs' team meets PM over Sikh's beheading by Taliban (Lead) - Feb 23, 2010
- MPs delegation meets PM over Sikh's beheading - Feb 23, 2010
- SGPC, Punjab government condemn Sikh beheading in Pakistan - Feb 22, 2010
- Jammu Sikhs protest beheading of Pakistani Sikhs - Feb 23, 2010
- Two Sikhs kidnapped in Pakistan rescued - Mar 01, 2010
- SGPC condemns beheading of Sikh youths by Taliban in Pakistan - Feb 22, 2010
- India should talk to Pakistan over Sikh beheading: Congress - Feb 22, 2010
- SGPC, Akal Takht condemns beheading of Sikh youths by Taliban in Pakistan - Feb 22, 2010
- Beheaded body of a Sikh found in Pakistan - Feb 22, 2010
- BJP criticizes Centre for its callous attitude on beheading of Sikhs - Feb 22, 2010
- Did abducted Sikh youths 'escape' Taliban's captivity or 'rescued' by Pak military? - Mar 02, 2010
- Beheaded body of a Sikh found in Pakistan (Lead) - Feb 22, 2010
- Zardari denounces beheading of Sikh in Pakistan - Feb 22, 2010
Tags: bbc, chamber of commerce, chamber of commerce and industry, convenor, crore, harassment, jammu and kashmir, jaspal singh, kashmir, mastan singh, peshawar city, provincial capital, ransom, second man, sikh community, sikhs in pakistan, student organizations, taliban, united front, wazir